About Us

£54,000 raised at the Ride High Ball Friday on 23rd September 2011.  Rachel Medill said:  “It simply would not have been possible to run this scale of event without the help of companies, individuals and over 30 volunteers who donated donate time, products, services and prizes.  It felt as if the whole of Milton Keynes had come together to support Ride High. We raised a quarter of next year’s running costs – it was phenomenal and we are hugely grateful to everyone” See more on the news page.
 
Ride High is a registered charity (no. 1138260) based in Milton Keynes which aims to help disadvantaged children and those having difficulties in their daily lives, by giving them the opportunity to learn to ride and look after horses and ponies. There is evidence that for children who are angry, hurt, upset, lonely or underprivileged, contact with horses can have highly beneficial effects. Children who exhibit antisocial behaviour in their daily lives often find that riding provides an absorbing new challenge which can take the place of disruptive activities and for others it builds confidence and self esteem.

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The children that Ride High aims to help are likely to fall into one or more of the following categories:

  • children in care or foster children;
  • children from deprived backgrounds;
  • children who are carers for a parent or younger siblings;
  • children who are bullied at school or feel disenfranchised;
  • children who have been in trouble with the authorities;
  • children who have been excluded from school;
  • children who have suffered abuse.

Ride High is based in Milton Keynes.  It started operations with its first group of children on 23 April 2009 and now provides access for 70 children per week. 

Our goals

That the children that participate in the Ride High project have positive experiences that help them deal better with things they find difficult in their daily lives

That the children become more attuned to their own possibilities and opportunities and go on to contribute more fully and constructively to the world around them.

What makes Ride High different

1. Our work with horses

2. Our focus on improving self esteem, confidence and social skills through structured clubroom sessions and our emphasis on monitoring improvements in every child.

3. Our long term approach. We operate all the way through the year including during school holidays when many other activities close down.  For those children who attend regularly we commit to provide access until they are 18 years old

4. We provide transport for every child who needs it to and from the club. This is an essential service for so many of the children who attend.  We have our own minibus but also rely on a network of dedicated volunteers to help with transport.

5. For all long term members of Ride High volunteering for the club is a regular activity and one of the most popular. This might be helping a group of younger children, showing visitors round Ride High or fundraising via activities such as cake bakes, bag packing, sporting events and bucket collections.

6. We aim to facilitate work placements and/or routes to further education for as many children as possible when they reach an appropriate age.

Admissions

Ride High will only accept a child/young person as a result of a  referral from a recognised agency such as a social worker, youth worker, school or doctor.

For more information about Ride High please email us at info@ridehigh.org

Ride High awards in 2010/2011:

MK Chamber of Commerce – Best business supporting the local community – 2010

Citizen Pride of Milton Keynes Awards – Best community/sports/arts group 2010

High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire Award for Great and Valuable Services to the Community  2010/2011

 

Ride High is the trading name of Ride High Limited, a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales, no 7363597. Registered address: The Dove House, The Avenue, Aspley Guise, Bedfordshire, MK17 8HH

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