WORMWOOD SCRUBS PONY CENTRE
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Mission Statement
Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre (WSPC) is the only Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) centre in West London offering riding lessons and equine therapy to children, young people and adults. Founded in 1989 by Sister Mary Joy Langdon BEM, it is home to 20 ponies and horses, 2 donkeys and 3 cats all of which provide therapy for the participants. We have therapy programmes and riding lessons 6 days a week with one rest day. In addition, WSPC runs the Changing Life Through Horses (CLTH) programme initiated by the British Horse Society. The programme encourages and engages with young people who are, or about to be, excluded from school or struggling to engage in school activities. Global uncertainties and the cost-of-living crisis are having a profound effect on our income. All our costs have sky-rocketed, including horse feed and bedding, veterinary services, farrier services, utilities and equipment. We strive to work efficiently and keep costs as low as possible: but it is a challenge. Our vision is to create a lasting legacy for generations to come as we have seen the value of our work over the last 35 years as it has changed the lives of many young people and given them a better future. It is a rural oasis in the urban heart of London where inner-city children and young people can regularly experience the simplicity of being close to animals.
About This Cause
Set in the heart of West London and nestled on the edge of Wormwood Scrubs, WSPC confidently owns its place in the community. It is a riding centre providing equine therapy enriching and delighting the lives of its many users through the magic of our beautiful horses. Our clientele mainly but not exclusively comes from five London Boroughs: Hammersmith and Fulham, Brent, Westminster, Ealing and Kensington and Chelsea. Broadly, our customers are private individuals and local school groups. Activities Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) focus Our focus has always been to work with children and young people, especially those with physical / learning disabilities and autism. That ethos continues to this day and WSPC is an accredited and highly rated Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) centre enriching lives through horses. Specially trained coaches design riding programmes that respond to very specific needs. Some riders may benefit from riding exercises that increase their core strength for balance, others require gentle and calm interaction with the pony and the support staff. We work with individual riders and those from local schools and our successes could not continue without the extraordinary support from donors and a great team of staff and volunteers. And of course, the ponies! Changing Lives Through Horses (CLTH) Six key life skills are at the heart of this programme: communication, confidence, teamwork, building relationships, perseverance and responsibility. The CLTH programme offers both horse care and riding lessons with structured awards and certificates that recognise and reward achievement. These fundamental life skills are transferable back to school, further education or employment opportunities. As of 2024 we have 26 CLTH students with more planned later this year. One of the groups benefiting is Kids On The Green, a charity working with young children who were involved in the Grenfell Tower tragedy and it is a joy to see them enjoying their time with the ponies and the activities on the stable yard. Schools We have students from the following schools participating in therapy and or riding sessions: Jack Tizard, TCES, Roundwood School (The Beckmead Trust), Chelsea Hospital School, Edith Kay School, Castlebar School, Bassett House School, Willow Primary Academy and St Marylebone School. Our mechanical horse Henesey lives in the class room and is in regular use. He is a very important tool for inexperienced riders to learn riding skills and feel the motion of a horse without actually being on one. He is especially useful when working with children and young people who suffer from anxiety and find group lessons difficult. Hennessy helps strengthen the core muscles of disabled riders giving them better balance and therefore confidence and allowing them to have a different riding experience. These sessions give students the opportunity to watch and learn as their friends receive coaching and grow in confidence. Hennessy can also be used for other riders who may need to correct their position and work on skills as they continue their horse-riding journey. Kindergarten The children involved in the Kindergarten classes are now all working towards riding independently and progressing through their pony club journeys. Pony Club Classes are held on Saturday mornings and give young children an opportunity to spend time with ponies grooming and feeding, learn about horse care, fire safety, first aid and road safety. Once a module has been completed achievement badges are awarded. BHS Programmes Pony Stars A programme offered to young children as they complete modules and receive stickers for achievement and learning. Horse Explorer Leadership Awards are Aimed at teenagers and young adults, these awards help to develop your confidence, skills and knowledge in a fun, supportive environment.' https://www.bhs.org.uk/careers-recreational-awards/recreational-awards/horse-explorers/ There are 5 modules centred around basic horse care and handling. These are great for developing horse handling skills of our young people, offer a well thought out framework and are manageable. Excellent preparation for Stage 1.Aimed at young adults, participants are encouraged to develop leadership by building good relationships with others thereby strengthen team building skills. It is a fun way of learning with mentors to guide them on their way. Excellent preparation for BHS Stage 1. Riding School Assistant Certificate Aimed at Teenagers and Young Adults: The Riding School Assistant Certificate of Competence tests the all-round ability of volunteers in the following areas: basic grooming, tacking up and leading, stable yard duties and H&S knowledge. Progress and assessment are recorded and signed off in the RSA booklet which is then sent to the BHS for verification and an RSA certificate is awarded. Regular fundraising/community activities Many of the activities we hold like pony valentines day, Mothers’ Day celebration, Easter egg hunt, summer pony club camp, riding displays, volunteer days, gymkhanas and the Christmas market are not only fun and help raise funds but also bring local people together and strengthen the WSPC community. This community spirit can also be seen in the café run by volunteers on a Saturday morning which provides an opportunity for parents and carers to meet, have a chat, share information and relax while their children are involved in activities. Donkey walks We regularly walk the horses and donkeys across the Scrubs to local residents who may be socially isolated and have health conditions, especially Alzheimer’s and Dementia. It brings the residents so much happiness to see the donkeys, pet them and feed them a well-deserved carrot. Volunteers WSPC relies on the extraordinary commitment and hard work of many volunteers some of who have been involved with the Pony Centre for over 35 years. The roles are varied and you may see volunteers coaching RDA lessons, working on the yard, looking after and exercising the horses, helping at fundraising activities or cleaning out the gutters. Several volunteers manage administration which includes email correspondence, volunteer and rider applications, school groups and accounts. We run regular volunteer induction sessions and are developing a training programme to introduce inexperienced people to the care and management of our horses. For our RDA volunteers basic training is recorded on the green card to support and guide them through their coach training. We have two trustees dedicated to volunteer initiatives and support. Training courses are an important part of our activities for volunteers and staff. The following courses are run regularly: Fire Marshal training, First Aid, Equine First Aid, H&S, Inclusion and Diversity, Safeguarding, RDA coaching sessions, BHS and Pony Club. Practical and virtual sessions are held and certificates awarded on successful completion. Adult Riding and Youth Lessons We also offer a full programme of adult and youth lessons, with a heavy focus on schooling and training our horses so that they are ready to work with our RDA riders and to ensure they get the stimulation and exercise they need. Horse Training & Equine Therapy Our team oversees the training of both ridden and ground work. Horses enjoy a therapy programme to allow them better to serve our riders. WSPC is very proud of being equine focused and by starting with the welfare of the horse we allow them to be the perfect vehicle for our riders to learn new skills and develop. All members of the team believe the cornerstone of good communication with a horse is compassion and kindness as we ask these noble creatures to come on the journey with us. History Sister Mary Joy recently asked herself the question, what is the Pony Centre? The answer that came to her was “a very spiritual place where people are free to be who they are and where animals are loved and cherished.” This was true in 1989 when she arrived on a muddy corner of the Scrubs with a few ponies, no electricity, no toilets, and water from an old standpipe. Now WSPC has 20 horses and ponies, 2 donkeys, an indoor riding hall, a classroom, stables, six members of staff, an amazing team of volunteers and a Board of Trustees. It is a registered charity, an RDA, BHS accredited riding centre, member of the Pony Club, honorary member of The Association of British Riding Schools and an accredited riding centre. Sister Mary Joy’s original vision for WSPC was for it to improve the lives of inner-city children and young people and that ethos remains the core value of the centre today. Awards and Achievements 2005 WSPC was awarded the Queen’s Award (equivalent to an MBE) for enhancing the lives of children and young people and giving them the opportunity to develop skills through equine therapy. The Board of Trustees has recruited a new CEO to preserve and build upon her legacy for the future and Sister Mary Joy will continue to support the centre in an alternative role. Financial stability, will underpin the long-term success of the centre and we have a number of projects in the pipeline which require varying levels of funding including: The development our riding programme to increase revenue by 25%: this will mean more investment in training and equines. Securing funding to provide BHS career training to school leavers and others. Securing funding to subisidise riding for those in financial hardship Making more use of the Scrubs to give our riders and equines a more varied experience. The purchase or rent of additional land so that we can rest and rotate our herd. Funds for land, transport and supervision of the equines. The ongoing challenge of buildings and maintenance Further development of the therapeutic use of our equines with a dedicated onsite facility Further development of the therapeutic use of our equines with a dedicated onsite facility/treatment room for physiotherapy and talking therapies. Startup of an RDA carriage driving programme which will need funds to purchase a carriage, suitable horses and to train staff.