Elisabeth Curtis Centre Riding For The Disabled

We are a purpose built Riding for the Disabled centre based in Bromham, just outside of Bedford. We have been at the centre of our community for quite a while ( since 1975) supporting hundreds of people with a disability to ride. We provide therapy, fitness, skills development and opportunities for achievement  - all whilst being supported by hundreds of volunteers throughout this time!

We work throughout the week helping independent participants and children from local special schools and other organisations. We're the only RDA site in Bedfordshire and the only purpose built centre in the surrounding areas and so there is a high demand for our services which has only increased with lockdown!

During lockdown we ( like many other charities) had to close down and suspend sessions. This along with cancelled events and fundraising meant a substantial loss of income for the charity! We took to the challenge and adapted to new ways of working and new digital income streams however when the all clear was given to open it took a while to get our services open again. This was due to having limited staffing (we are a volunteer led organisation) to bring our ponies back into work (you wouldn't run a marathon after no training) and the need to recruit a substantial amount of new volunteer numbers to support the extra needs of our participants and running sessions. 

 We are not quite back to pre-covid levels of work (needing additional coaches) and so we are continuing to support the charity with reserves and so are looking for your support to help us to keep the lights on, the ponies fed and their needs met in order to continue providing these special sessions to residents of the local area for many more years to come!

Don't just take our word for it.... Here is from one of our participants parents:

"He was excited and glad to be riding again. We, as parents feel riding has helped him immensely with managing his fears, developing his confidence and above all helped him with improving his physical abilities, especially his coordination, posture and strength.”