FUNDING 2014 - The Anders Foundatation donated £1000 to the Bedford and District Handicapped Riders Association. OVERVIEW The Charity was formed over fifty years ago to use ponies as therapy to improve the co-ordination and health of handicapped children and adults. They maintain their own ponies and have their own purpose built indoor riding school in the village of Willington, Beds. Most of their riders come from specialist schools in Bedfordshire but also take adults from the Sue Ryder home and other people are referred to us by their GP's. Last year we had over 100 riders. FUNDRAISING Every year we need to raise approximately £20,000 just to keep things ticking over and we do this by organising fetes, craft fayres, coffee mornings and musical evenings but in these times of austerity it gets harder and harder to raise this amount. We also apply for funding from charitable institutions and family trusts. EXPENSES Our expenses are continually rising. For example in 2011 our horse expenses were £7734 but rose 15% in 2012 and will be higher again this year. We also need additional capital investment to maintain and improve our facilities. We do not have any administrative costs as all our helpers are volunteers apart from the lady who feeds and cares for the ponies.
