We are overjoyed and deeply grateful. After three weeks of tireless campaigning and unwavering support from thousands of incredible people like you, we have made it!
With your help, we’ve raised more than £500,000. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Against all the odds, we’ve succeeded in saving Calvert Exmoor, and it’s all thanks to your generosity and belief in our centre.
Every donation, every share, every interaction with our social media posts, has made a difference. Whether you are one of our many individual supporters, a business, or a Trust or Foundation, your contribution has been vital. We are incredibly grateful to every single person who has helped make this campaign a success.
As we outlined below, we are moving forward with bold plans to diversify our income streams and secure a sustainable financial future. We are fully committed to making the necessary changes to strengthen our charity for the long term. With these new strategies, we are confident that we can continue to provide the exceptional experiences that so many of you know and love at Calvert Exmoor.
The success of this campaign also means that bookings are now OPEN!
Getting back to providing life-enhancing breaks and activities has been the driving force behind our efforts, and we’re thrilled to be able to continue welcoming you to our centre. Whether you’re a returning guest or visiting for the first time, we would love to hear from you.
Continuing to use our facilities is the best way you can help support us and ensure our future. Please phone 01598 763221 between 9am and 6pm every day to enquire.
We have decided to leave the fundraiser open for now. As a charity, continuous donations are what enables us to thrive. For those who wish to continue supporting us with additional donations, you can do so on the Crowdfunder or donate directly through our website. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us keep delivering life-changing experiences.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who has been part of this incredible journey. We couldn’t have done it without you!
We faced an immediate and critical financial crisis. Without raising £500,000 by August 31st 2024, our doors would have closed forever.
For almost 30 years, our centre has been a vital source of transformative outdoor adventures for individuals and families with disabilities.
We've offered life-changing experiences through accessible activities like horse riding, zip-lining, climbing and canoeing. Our mission has always been to foster independence and build confidence, and we've proudly provided these opportunities to so many incredible people.
With the rewards, you can be a part of our community, you can help the centre survive, and you CAN have your name on treasured pieces of Calvert Exmoor. Because we’re all in this together and you can share the successes.
Calvert Exmoor plays a massive role in opening up accessible adventures for people with disabilities. Now it’s time for you to play a significant role in saving the centre on their behalf and have your name on display, recognising your contribution and showcasing your support.
The current economic climate has presented us with severe challenges meaning we are now at a crisis point.
- Decline in Tourism: The South West tourism sector has been hit especially hard this year by weather issues and increased competition from overseas travel.
- Inflationary Pressures: The costs of running our centre have risen sharply due to inflation. Essentials like food, fuel, maintenance, and wages have all become more expensive, putting a strain on our finances.
To overcome these challenges and secure our future, we have launched a Crowdfunder campaign with a target of £500,000. This desperately needed money will be used to:
- £200,000 - Keep Our Doors Open & Keep Our Horses Safe: We need cash now to enable us to stay operational over the winter months. We have a fantastic number of bookings for 2025 already, but without this money now, the centre will close and our excited guests will miss out on their opportunity to flourish through their upcoming breaks. With 14 horses in our care, one of our top priorities is ensuring that these cherished animals can stay on site and remain cared for by our dedicated and passionate equestrian team of staff, volunteers and community members. If Calvert Exmoor closes, our horses will be considered assets and no longer remain in our care, making their future uncertain.
- £150,000 - Enhance Our Centre & Business Model: to provide us with the confidence and funds to invest into re-structuring how we operate; to continue and develop our fundraising team; to develop new markets and activities to enhance the range of activities and guest experience; to instal solar panels on the equestrian centre roof to substantially reduce our energy costs and to establish partnering arrangements with other organisations to maximise the use of or excellent facilities and site. Most importantly it buys us the time to put into effect and further develop these plans as part of our diversification strategy so that we are not dependent on guest revenue and fundraising alone. This will enable us to generate much more income to support our core charitable activity.
- £150,000 - Explore New Opportunities: to invest in 5 pods to provide low-cost bunkhouse accommodation to be on-site and operational by February 2025 for use by mainstream schools for educational activity trips and other able-bodied groups to generate a substantial new income stream
Please note that these individual amounts are estimated. They are also not independent of each other and need to be handled as a total sum of £500,000 to help now and in the future.
Ultimately, £500,000 buys us the time to put into effect and further develop plans as part of our diversification strategy so that we are not dependent on guest revenue and fundraising alone. This will enable us to generate much more income to support our core charitable activity. Without reaching the total amount, staff redundancies would need to take place, breaks would be cancelled, and the future of the centre would continue to crumble, leaving no choice but to close the doors for good.
In the past 18 months, Calvert Exmoor has made remarkable strides, thanks to the incredible support of our dedicated community of staff, volunteers and donors. We’ve successfully launched a new website, introduced exciting new activities like rafting and outdoor crate-stacking, and upgraded our facilities with cutting-edge accessibility equipment and a new community sensory room.
This is a community effort. Calvert Exmoor enables people from all over the UK and in the local North Devon community to access invaluable experiences. We have always believed that it's what you CAN do that counts!
Every share, every connection, every donation, every piece of advice helps.
Please join us in this mission. Together, we can ensure that Calvert Exmoor continues to be a beacon of hope and opportunity for those who need it most.
To support our campaign even further, please donate or get in touch.
Thank you for your continued support.
The Calvert Exmoor Team
[email protected]