Ramblers Riding Club
A lifeline for the Rochford community
New to the Essex ActivAte programme in 2024, Ramblers Riding Club plays a significant role in supporting families and young people by offering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all ages. The club provides riding lessons, therapeutic horse-riding sessions, and opportunities for young people to develop confidence, discipline, and teamwork skills.
Through structured programmes, the club helps children and teenagers build physical and emotional resilience, while also adopting a sense of community. Families benefit from the club's affordable activities, events, and volunteer opportunities, making it a central hub for recreational and educational experiences.
The club has been successful in combating loneliness and isolation, improving confidence, and helping attendees become more active. Families have created their own WhatsApp group to support one another and meet up outside the sessions.
Ramblers Riding Club has made a significant impact in the community, actively supporting families on free school means, SEND, and vulnerable households. Over the summer, they successfully engaged more than 300 unique children, demonstrating their rapid integration into the local community. Many families have described the club as a “lifesaver,” providing a nurturing space where their children feel accepted.
Due to their success and commitment to the HAF programme, Ramblers has built a kitchen to provide healthy meals and food workshops. They also collaborate with local police and fire services for safety talks and have appointed dedicated mental wellbeing ambassadors.
Additionally, they partner with supermarket champions to leverage funding for the club and for families who are struggling to feed their children, enhancing the support they provide to families.
Ramblers Riding Club's scope of work has significantly broadened, recently securing £40,000 in Short Breaks Capital funding. This funding, matched with the Active Essex Places and Spaces fund, will be invested in creating a safe indoor SEND space and an engaging outdoor SEND adventure playground.
