Funding from Kent Community Foundation has been used to purchase a lift to assist children and adults with disabilities to mount ponies.
Thanet Disabled Riding Centre provides individual tailored riding and therapy sessions to children and adults with many different physical and mental disabilities, vulnerabilities and special educational needs. They applied to Kent Community Foundation for funding towards the purchase of a disabled lift. Kent Community Foundation awarded the organisation £4,200 from The Albert Burns Children’s Trust Fund, one of more than ninety philanthropic funds that they manage.
The grant was spent on the construction and delivery of a portable wheelchair ramp to assist disabled children and adults to mount ponies. Now that the new disabled lift is in use, Kent Community Foundation visited the charity to see the difference it has made to their riders and meet their four working ponies and Smartie their 36 year old retired tea drinking Shetland.
Robin Putney from the Thanet Disabled Riding Centre said, “We had the pleasure of meeting Hannah Hayfield from Kent Community Foundation who helped with funding towards our amazing wheelchair accessible ramp! Hannah got the chance to see the lift in full action with our wonderful rider Arthur and our pony Bertie! By having this equipment, Arthur is more independent when mounting Bertie for his ride! It also allows Arthur to be more self-confident during his ride too!”
Hannah Hayfield, Communications Manager, Kent Community Foundation said, “The Albert Burns Children’s Trust Fund supports projects across Thanet and they were delighted to contribute towards the cost of the disabled lift, to help the Thanet Disabled Riding Centre to offer their services to clients that could not previously mount the ponies. It was great to meet the team of volunteers, hear about the wonderful service they provide and see Arthur enjoying his ride on Bertie.”
Richard Durrant, Boys & Maughan Solicitors’, Trustee for the Albert Burns Children’s Trust Fund said, “Thanet Disabled Riding School’s role in supporting children is inspiring and an excellent fit for the aims of the Albert Burns Children’s Fund. The fund supports many fantastic charities and is always seeking new ways to support projects and initiatives that benefit children and young people in East Kent.”
To contact Kent Community Foundation about funding for charities and community groups call 01303 814500, email admin@kentcf.org.uk or visit www.kentcf.org.uk/funding
Kent Community Foundation has been supporting Thanet Disabled Riding Centre since 2014 and has awarded them funding totalling £23,200.
About Thanet Disabled Riding Centre
Thanet Disabled Riding Centre is an independent nonprofit organisation located in Broadstairs which has been running for forty nine years. The Centre supports forty riders a week and is home to working four ponies and a retired Shetland.
About the Albert Burns Children’s Trust Fund
Thanet businessman Albert Burns left instructions in his Will for his legal advisors Boys & Maughan Solicitors to create a legacy for children in Thanet. He particularly wanted to support smaller charities that don’t have the resources of the larger children’s charities. Boys & Maughan Solicitors work with Kent Community Foundation who manage the grant-making on their behalf and direct funding to local children’s groups and charities where it will make a significant impact locally.
Ian Priston, Boys & Maughan Solicitors said, “Kent Community Foundation has enabled us to establish a significant legacy fund that will continue to benefit local communities for years to come and means to reach out to many more Kent children’s charities than would have been possible if we had attempted to manage the trust independently.”
About Kent Community Foundation
Experienced grant-maker Kent Community Foundation is the organisation behind the organisations and has been finding, funding, and supporting some of the smallest voluntary groups in the county for over twenty three years. In this time, it has distributed almost £57 million to support thousands of small charities and deserving causes where a modest sum of money can make a significant impact.
Kent Community Foundation is part of a UK wide accredited network of forty-seven Community Foundations who are committed to improving the lives of local people and communities, particularly the most vulnerable, isolated, and disadvantaged by matching those who want to help, with those who need the help.
Responsible for more than ninety philanthropic funds, Kent Community Foundation is unrivalled in its knowledge of local causes and assists individuals, families, and businesses who want to help, to establish and administer their own charitable funds.
Kent Community Foundation funding priorities –
- Children, Young People & Families
Supporting disadvantaged children and young people’s physical and mental health, encouraging positive choices and staying safe. - Vulnerable Adults
Helping those who may need extra care dealing with challenging issues or those at risk of social exclusion or discrimination.
3. Elderly and Isolated
Enabling elderly adults to stay well, healthy, independent and free from social isolation.
4. Employability, Skills & Enterprise
Creating opportunities to develop skills and confidence and have a positive impact in areas and groups of people with high unemployment.
5. Environment
Encouraging community action to improve and protect local spaces with support sustainable ways of living.
