Latest news

AGM 11th April 2024

Isaac and Elvi’s Nanna gave an inspiring and thought provoking talk at our AGM. However long we’ve been volunteering it does us no harm to stop and think about the children and what we do:

Christmas 2023

November 2023

Dear All,

I am writing to you with an important update regarding the Centre of England Tuesday sessions.

Unfortunately, the Trustees have made the difficult decision to permanently stop the Tuesday riding sessions as of now.

As many of you will be aware in 2019 Fen End Group merged with Centre of England to become one group continuing to offer lessons to both local schools and individuals on a Tuesday and a Thursday lunchtime.

Capably led by Gayle their coach with Julia Goodchild, Carole Marson and Ros Smith as organisers, the Tuesday session along with a dedicated team of volunteers provided lessons for children from Woodfield School for five years. Prior to this Fen End RDA had enjoyed a remarkable 40 plus years with children from Exhall Grange School.

More recently we experienced problems recruiting and retaining new volunteers for Tuesdays, however the final blow was when we received notification that Woodfield School would no longer be able to return to us due to staff shortages and cuts.

The loss of the school contract left us in a difficult position with no real alternative but to close.

I would like to thank everyone involved on Tuesdays for their time, effort and patience whilst this matter has been ongoing and I’m really sorry that it has ended like this.

Despite this, the positive impact of your efforts over the months and years cannot be underestimated for all those children, their families and their carers. The benefits both physically and mentally, the confidence and the happy memories you helped create are just some of the reasons why we do what we do. Thank you.

Thursday sessions will continue as normal, and it is hoped that, wherever possible, our Tuesday volunteers can slide across to help on Thursdays.

Kind regards

Katrina Glennon-Spence (Chairman)

Thursday 12th October 2023

Hooray!! After approximately 18 months of not riding due to a lack of a suitable horse, who was also trained to use the hydraulic lift, yesterday was an emotional day.

With a full team of helpers Eliza happily got on the lift and mounted the wonderful Archie with no hesitation.

Archie was on his best behaviour and Eliza enjoyed a short ride with us.

It was an absolute joy to see her so happy to be riding again and her mum’s face filled with delight.

15th June 2023

Fun Day was a huge success, the sun shone and everyone had a good time. All our riders rode really well especially Elvi who competed off the lead rein for the first time and Charlie at his first Fun Day. As it was Coronation Year the hat theme was a Crown. And of course, it was a great ‘bring and share’ picnic afterwards to round off the year.

1st April 2023

We had great fun on our last ride before Easter, lots of bunnies and Easter eggs!

March 2023

We have received the following thank you letter from two grateful foster parents whose children ride with us:

"Dearest Bridget, Sally, Sue and the rest of the pony riding volunteer team that support the children's riding lessons every fortnight (not forgetting all the wonderful ponies and horses they've ridden over the past 12 months too),

We just want to say a huge 'THANK YOU' to each and every one of you for making the children's pony riding experience over the past year or so, so wonderfully special and memorable. The children have gained so much confidence over this time and appreciation too for the ponies and horses they have had the pleasure of riding.

We are continually grateful for everyone's enthusiasm and willingness to give your wisdom and time to help the children enjoy an activity we know is hugely enjoyable and beneficial for them.

Everyone at the centre is always so kind and friendly and ensure we are all looked after fantastically well with such great patience, care & compassion.

Our RDA experience has been truly wonderful, and we always look forward to spending our Thursday afternoons with you.

Very best wishes and many thanks again,"

February 2023

At the end of last year it was looking as though our Tuesday sessions would have to stop due to a lack of volunteers but….Following a recruitment drive we’ve been delighted that so many people have come forward to become volunteers for our Tuesday sessions. Many of them have now been DBS checked and are undergoing training. A huge thank you to everyone who has joined us we’re delighted to have you on board

23rd June 2022

The rain held off for a great Fun Day, the first for three years. Everyone had a great time and our riders rode exceptionally well making us all very proud of what they had achieved. Lots of Rosettes were won and of course the picnic afterwards was up to usual CofE standards!

19th June 2022

The Maxstoke Open Day was a huge success, thank you to all those who helped, baked cakes, donated tombola prizes etc. And a huge thank you to the Fetherston-Dilke family for selecting us as their chosen charity this year. We had 1900 visitors and raised a huge amount of money. The final figures will be published shortly; we’ve already banked over £3,000!

16th June 2022

Many thanks to Jo Winson, ‘Nanna’, who donated this wonderful sculpture of a horses head to our group last Thursday. Isaac and Elvi so enjoy their riding with us and this is Jo’s way of saying thank you and how much they appreciate us. The Trustees will decide how to use this wonderful donation to raise funds for the group…..watch this space.

March 2022

We are now holding a third session every fortnight for three more children. They are thoroughly enjoying it.

On 24th March Rhett’s wife, two daughters and granddaughter came to watch us ride and unveil a plaque on our shed in memory of Rhett.

It was good to share our happy memories of Rhett and all the good work he did for our group.

As always Veronica provided a lovely tea which we had in the glorious sunshine whilst watching the children ride outside.

February 2022

Springfield have been unable to come back to riding so we have recently started providing 6 week courses to pupils from Venture Academy, Henley in Arden. They are riding in the 1.30 Thursday session. The children are enjoying riding and the teachers are seeing great benefits. We have also just introduced a 1pm session on a Thursday for three siblings, they had a fantastic time at their first session this week.

Sadly Woodfield School have still not been able to come back to riding but hope to soon.

Christmas 2021

A lovely Christmas lunch was held at Veronica’s after our AGM and the children enjoyed their Christmas ride, decorating the tree and playing party games on horseback.