Birtle and Rochdale Riding Club, Riding for special needs

Birtle and Rochdale Riding Club

Birtle and Rochdale Riding Club is currently helping a number of youngsters and adults with special needs to take up a new hobby through their Riding for Special Needs charity.

The charity takes young people and adults out on horseback rides around the Birtle area and uses the indoor arena when the weather is too bad for outdoor rides.

Running for 15 years and currently helping 60 riders, the charity started to help encourage people with varying forms of special needs to learn a hobby and a new skill.

Caroline Smith, a volunteer with the charity said: “The charity has been going for a really long time and we have quite a large number of people continuing to come. It is really lovely to see them getting out and about.”

As well as providing horseback rides for people with special needs, the charity goes into schools and organisations to talk about their work.

“We go and speak to people in schools about the charity to let them know what we do and why we do it and that way we can work on raising awareness of what we do,” said Caroline.

The charity relies on donations and relies on the work of volunteers to ensure that their work can continue.

Caroline added: “Everyone volunteers their time for free and we have to relay on fundraising and donations from people to do what we do.”

To raise their much needed funds, the charity often holds regular fundraising events throughout the year including a Barn Dance/Hoe Down, a dress up your pet event and a weekly lottery for people to get involved with.

“We hold four/five sessions a week and it is really nice to see the enjoyment that people get from the rides and the things that we do,” added Caroline.

Anyone interested in helping the charity can contact them on 0161 764 6573.