News from The Paddocks
This week we have been busy signing up people to our new qualifications to start after Easter. This is a new qualification being delivered here and is a level 1 city and guilds in horse care. Marian Burch( Canterbury College) has been working hard to do all the paperwork to enable us to run this project.
Also this week, KEITS have been here to sign up our 3 x A1 assessors. These new assessors will then be able to assess our students here on their NVQ horse studies. Our three volunteers are looking forward to completing this and being able to support our learners here.
At local competitions, the Paddocks young volunteers team have achieved a first place at the last 5 shows. The Paddocks teams are becoming well known at Collette’s horse and dog shows and Blackhorse shows. Well done to all the teams and thank you to all our sponsors.
Rachel Silk and Anne Berry have been giving freelance tuition to our staff/participants and their exam preparation is going well. All participants and staff at the Paddocks are working to their next qualification. We appreciate the opportunity to learn and inspire others.
The new surface in our school is very much better than before and this weekend we tried out our new jumps in the jumping field. All the ponies feel much more comfy in their new saddles and warm rugs.
Our new horse Amber, is happily settled in her new home with us and has been actively working carrying out our clients on their treks. She is gradually achieving a good fitness level, closely monitored by our students, as part of their project.
Community Skills Recreational Project
The Paddocks is starting the new community skills recreational activity project on the 17th March 2009. This project is aimed at developing the life and social skills of troubled people. We have clients from local referral agencies that will join this project to improve their life skills and particpate in a healthy outdoor sport. We will be providing enjoyable treks out into our countryside and also offering life skills tuition with our learning providers from Canterbury College. The cabin project is proving most successful and has already attracted in excess of 20 new learners to sign up for the programme. A big thank you to Eastern Coastel Kent for funding this project.
KEITS A1 assessor courses
KEITS are here to deliver a A1 assessor course to 3 of our volunteers. Also they will be delivering 2 peoples NVQ 3 business studies. We would like to thank them for helping our volunteer staff achieve the qualifications they need to deliver qualifications to others.
Training update- Canterbury College
The Paddocks have been working closely with Canterbury College with Lee Shorter, Vicky Whitewood and Marian Burch. The college has been most flexible in designing our life skills programme of NVQ studies. This has now commenced in our cabin area. Our students will all have access to the laptops provided by Pziers and work in a rota system, some doing horses riding and stable management, some working on their life skills NVQ. We have been overwelmed by the amount of people signed up for this training. We now have 15 students working for this qualification. A big thank you to the staff at the college for their speed and flexibility in supporting this project.
Ashford actionaires
Today we had a visit from 18 youngsters from Ashford Actionaires, headed by Sylvie, Tracey and Nicky. The youngsters had a fabulous day as the sun shone for us. They had a trek around the walkways and also played simon says on horseback in the sand menage. Great fun was had by all and we even managed to get some of the staff on horseback! The Ashford Actionaires group is supported by Action for the Blind. Please take a look in our Gallery for pictures of our day.
Four Acre Trust
Four Acre Trust have continued to support The Paddocks with its activites and we are very grateful for the cash that provided us with our field shelter area. The cabin is a classroom/clubhouse for our clients to come and learn and also to get a cup of tea, so we are also grateful for the water and electric bills to be paid and our accounts to be done by batchelor coop from Eastry.
Four Acre will also be helping 4 young people to attend our 3 day training project in Ireland and help fund our volunteer costs/running costs from February till June.
All our children and volunteers enjoy the visits we have Jane from at Four Acre Trust and look forward to showing her what they have achieved on her next visit.
Thank you Four Acre Trust .
Peoples Millions update
We now have our new horse to carry our bigger clients. Her name is 'Amber' and she is a lithuanian sport horse. She is very safe and steady in the school and quiet on our hacks out. We are very grateful to have her and look forward to taking many people out for happy rides on her.
Our new jumps are also here from thanet showjumps. They are lovely and will go a long way to helping our young people learn their showjumping skills and attend local shows.
The sandschool is also back up to full working order. It had recycled tyre shreds from Ling Metals in Canterbury and sand from Brett aggregates near faversham. The surface is a great improvement and now doesnt flood when it rains.
Also, we have our lovely new saddles from 'The Saddle Rack' in Hawkinge. Two helpful ladies ( Sue and Nicky) came from the store to fit the saddles. Our ponies set off on their trek, swishing their happy tails with their comfy new saddles on their backs.
Thank you to all our voters.
The Batty Charitable Trust
A big thank you to the Batty Charitable Trust for their donation that has suppiled us with a instructor for the months of January and February. During this time we have been able to employ a Freelance staff member , who has been able to engage a group of young people in riding activites from Porchlight , a homeless charity in Canterbury. This project has been most sucessful and our students will now be attending a second project. The young people will be taking life skills courses and some will be progressing onto a NVQ in equine studies.
February Fun
Today the 20th February , we had a visit from Britta Osthaus. She is an animal Psychologist that lectures at Christchurch University. Britta had decided to help us do a study on how horses reason. It was really interesting. We had food at one end of a enclosed area and the horses had to find the gap to get to it. Some were much more clever than others! Especially the food orientated ones. We thank Britta for her generous time with us and hope to see her soon again for her next study.
Also this half term we have attended 2 horse shows had 7 lovely very long hacks and completed 27 training sessions with our young people. Next week we have lots to do for our new training programmes with canterbury college and concorde international. Thank everyone for helping our young people to achieve.
Full speed ahead for the Paddocks
Due to our recent funding from The Batty Charitable Trust ,Four Acre Trust, Awards for all and The Peoples Millions’, are looking forward to the following dates. Visit from 'train to gain' representative on 29th January, looking at using our projects to help people further to gain training and education. Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th February we are spending these 2 days viewing horses to buy, for our centre. We were given cash by peoples millions to fund two larger horses, so that we can include larger people and also help our people progress onto bigger horses.
Monday 9th February we have a visit from Marian Birch and the business team from Canterbury College to sign up some of our young people interested in completing a NVQ at our establishment. The courses will be run from the Paddocks in our newly refurbished cabin area.
Tuesday 10th February we have Ken from Concorde International here is here delivering new exciting training package delivered through computers and the internet. This package is a basic skills course in numercay and literacy and when completed provides a certificate to help access jobs. The project is take place in our cabin area.
At present we have Tuesdays , Wednesdays and Thursdays for Porchlight and Scrine. Fridays is for local support group referrals. Saturday and Sunday is for local children that fit our criteria.
On 11th February, Wednesday and Thursday, we have two young people helping out from Beechgrove Community as trainee young volunteers.
Friday 13th February to Sunday 22nd February is half term fun time for our local children and participants. We will also be holding some of our new family rides project days. Lets all hope we have found our new horses to join our team of trusted mounts.
On Thursday 19th February we have a visit from Jefferies saddle making. We are purchasing some new saddles for our horses( compliments of peoples millions).
Best Wishes to all our supporters from the Trustees
January 2009
The paddocks had a lovely christmas holiday especially at colletes christmas show where our young people took part in lots of fun competitions and won prizes. Our SCRINE particpants went on a 5 hour ride to the compasses pub at Crundale and we also held young people christmas rides. We all look forward to a productive new year and wish all our our members a happy healthy 2009!
Christmas 2008 holiday programme
This is the timetable for the christmas activitites.
15th December Monday Ponies day off
16th December Tuesday Adults training day with Emma and Gemma
17th December Wednesday Group from Porchlight- with Kerrie
18th December Thursday Group from Scrine and trainees - Kerrie & Louise
19th December Friday Trainees- Louise teaching
Visit from Ken- Basic skills 10 am
Party in cabin for junior leaders 5pm- Louise
20th December Saturday Tinsel trek for Junior leader group and young
ponies hack – 2 Groups –slow & fast - Kerrie
21st December Sunday Colettes horse Show – Blue barn
22nd December Monday Junior Leaders Group
23rd December Tuesday New family group rides 10am Louise
Lessons for all with Louise
24th December Wednesday Gymkhana Day for All - Kerrie
25th December Thursday Day Off - Emma and Sam
26th December Friday Day Off - Emma and Sam
27th December Saturday Hack to Crundale Pub Kerrie
28th December Sunday Horse Show at Blue barn - Louise
Lessons with Louise
29th December Monday Ponies day off Emma
30th December Tuesday little ones rides 10am
Show at Limes Farm equestrian Centre
31st December Wednesday hacks for younger group members
( text Kerrie 07703029420 for booking) Kerrie
1st January New years day jumping show with Kerrie- 12 pm
2nd January Friday - lessons with Louise
3rd to 10th January inclusive – the Paddocks will be closed until 13th January 2009
Awards for All
Awards for All have been very kind and funded our Insurance costs , Volunteer costs and horse shows for our 'inclusive to all ages equine sports programme' This programme means that now any age group can apply to ride at the paddocks and we will be able to offer group rides for families. The peoples millions grant will compliment this project as we will also not be restricted by peoples weight as well. This is because we will have 2 bigger horses to carry our taller and larger mums and dads! With this funding from Awards for All 2009 is going to be a fun packed busy programme for our clients. So ring and book now for our next project that is designed for you!
The Batty Charitable trust
The Paddocks had a letter today to say that the Batty Charitable Trust have granted us funds to pay a staff member. We will use the cash to offer basic skills tuition in the cabin and horse rides. Whilst one group rides the ponies , one group will be learning English and Maths using equine management as examples. A very big thank you to all at The Batty Charitable Trust!
Weekly programme
The Paddocks has a new rolling programme. If you are interested in any of the activites listed please contact Jean on 07734189902 or email sharratt_jean@hotmail.com
Monday - Ponies day off
Tuesday - 'Local Schools' programme - with Louise Edwards
Wednesday - 'Back to Work' volunteer training programmes and youth project - with Kerrie Bundock
Thursday – SCRINE particpants/support agencies day- With Kerrie Bundock
Friday – Local referrals agencies day – with Gemma Page
Saturday - Kerrie Bundock
9.30 – 11 am special needs riding group
11am – 1pm young volunteers and participants training
2 pm – 4pm Stable management and hacking
Sunday - Advanced riders show jumping and distance treks
Hurrah for peoples millions!
Everyone is over the moon because The Paddocks won the runner up with most votes contest with peoples millions. That means we now can buy two new horses for our larger riders, re- furbish our sandschool , buy new saddles and pay the training costs for new members/volunteers. We are all very excited and have began to search for our two special horses. One has to be not too tall( 15.2 ish) but wide to carry heavier but nervous people and needs to be able to school well and jump. The 2nd needs to be a tall ( 16.2 ish) and athletic but with a kind , calm gentle nature. All the young volunteers have been helping to search for the horses and also have been finding out the best deals on saddles and equipment. We are all having lots of fun choosing our new things and planning our next programme of events. Watch our website for news! 
peoples millions
The peoples millions vote is on Monday 24th November . Watch Meridian news, at 6pm to see 'the Paddocks' and get the number to vote. We need your vote! The cash would be spent on 2 new horses, new saddles , volunteer costs and a new surface for our school. Please vote for us and every vote is precious. HERE IS THE NUMBER TO VOTE! YOU CAN VOTE 10 TIMES FROM THE SAME PHONE. IT COTS 10P PER CALL FROM A LANDLINE AND MAY VARY FROM A MOBILE. THANK YOU 0871 626 8872 
Whats on
The Paddocks has now organised its rolling timetable for the next 7 months( subject to successful funding). Wednesdays will be youth groups, Thursdays SCRINE members, Fridays referals from local support agencies, Saturday mornings young/new riders group lessons and hacks, Saturday afternoon will be our volunteer training sessions. Sunday is show day or long hacks and Monday is our ponies day off. We will also be accepting NVQ student programmes Wednesday to Fridays to run alongside the other programmes and school holidays will be organised holiday activites. Our yard manager for Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday will be Kerrie Bundock. The Yard Manager for Fridays will be Gemma Page. Do ring our contact numbers or email if you wish to enquire about any of these programmes.
Peoples Millions
The Paddocks will be featured on Meridian East News on the 24th November . We will be the first of two groups competing for a 'peoples millions' grant. It will be decided by public vote. We would be very grateful if all our supporters can put a note on their phones or in their diary to remember to ring in and vote for us. The grant would enable us to buy two big horses for our centre, provide instructor fees and also to buy some much needed saddles for our ponies.
Four Acre Trust
Once again, we would all like to thank Four Acre Trust for funding one of our paddocks projects. Four Acre have been one of main supporters for the last few years and we really appreciate their continued support. Thank You Four AcreTrust!
Child protection Training
The Paddocks wishes to thank V Project and Invicta FM for the Child protection funds we received. This Cash meant 5 young volunteers received training at the Paddocks Venue and 5 volunteers were able to join the Sports Development child protection Training at Canterbury High School on the 13th October. The Paddocks is always grateful for every opportunity to further train its staff and appreciates the professional service that the Kent Sports Development team is offering. The workshop was indeed very helpful.
The BHS Riding and Road Safety Test 18th Oct 2008
The Paddocks trustees are thrilled to announce that all 8 candidates passed their Riding and Road Safety test. Well Done to Tom, George, Richard, Matt, Chris, Ashley, Megan and Caroline.
Especially well done to those people that put so much so time and effort into to training our new volunteers, thankyou to all our staff volunteers, Kerrie, Louise, Gemma,Eleanor, Sam,Fiona, Alison,Jean, Alice,Paulie B and Tracy.
I do hope the paddocks will be able to secure further funding to enable us to train our staff for even more exams, for work within the Equine/volunteers industry.
Iffin Farm Show
On Sunday 12th October 12 of our workforce of ponies went to a horse show together, with 14 of our particpants and volunteers. We all were very happy as we had our new T shirts/ Ties/Saddle Clothes with 'the paddocks' embroidered on them. Angela Bradshaw organised a fund raising collection with the help of Cab Co. The Paddocks participants would like to thank Cab Co and Dover Street Newsagents for their kind efforts to raise the cash to buy these lovely team items. Also, thank you to Andrew at just sew, for a great deal on our shirts and ties.
Our day out was enjoyed by everyone and the children won lots of prizes! We hope that Dawn Simmons, at Iffin Farm, will put on another horse show soon.
Thankyou to our local supporters!
A big thank you to Angela Bradshaw for raising the cash needed to buy our T shirts, saddle clothes and ties with the Paddocks on. Our children are delighted with them. They are the nicest we have ever had! Thank you so much Angela and Kevin from Dover Street News. We will be putting a picture of our children wearing them at their first show next Sunday(12th October) and also displaying a list of all the kind business,s that helped by putting a collection box in the shops. Thank you everyone!
Peoples Millions
We are pleased to say that we are through to the last groups for peoples millions. This is a lottery funded grant which the pulic vote for through seeing us on TV. We have asked for 2 bigger horses, some saddles and jumps and a new surface for a sand school.We would be most grateful for all your votes if we do make it to the final round on the tv. We need our bigger horses for our taller people and also to train to stage 3 standard.
Riding and Road Safety test
Our Riding and Road Safety test for our new volunteers is on the 18th October. Our trainees have been working very hard to reach the standard required by the Britsh Horse Society examiners.The paddocks would like to thank VProject and Invicta FM for poviding us with the funds to be able to train and include our new volunteers on this programme. We wish them all luck for their final exam.
New volunteers
The Paddocks is proud to announce that it now has 16 new volunteers( aged 14-49 years) and 11 ( aged 11 - 42) still training.
Keep up the good work everyone!
Forthcoming exams
The Paddocks will be hosting a Equestrian Tourism Exam on the 25th September.
The next BHS Riding and Road Safety Exam is on the 18th October. 8 candidates are booked to take the exam.
Good luck to all our new Young Volunteers on this exam.
Both these exams are on the National Exam Accreditation,visit this website to see your exams on the database.
http://www.accreditedqualifications.org.uk/index.aspx
Well done to all our 'Young Volunteers' that recently passed their Progressive Riding Test One Exam.
We are hosting a First Aid exam on the 29th and 30th September plus a Child Protection Workshop.
Hunter Trials at Bigberry Farm
Kerrie, Emma, Sam and Elena took part in th Hunter trials at Bigberry Farm at the end of August. All four girls completed the course. It was a fast ride with a number of tricky fences to jump! Well done to all of them. It was a great opportunity for the girls to demonstrate their excellant riding skills and the Trustees are very proud of them for representing the Paddocks.
The Paddocks Pentathlon
The Paddocks held a five event challenge for its junior leader group. This challenge consisted of cycling,shooting,jumping,rustic fence jumping and dressage. All the competitors did extremely well and even our senior volunteers joined in the fun! The competition results are as follows:
1st Killian
2nd Eleanor
3rd Sam
4th joint David and Alice
5th Elena
6th Amy
7th Fiona
8th Emma
9th Gemma
10th Alice E
Well done to all the other competitors! It was a lovely day and the rain managed to stay away which was unusual for this years summer. Click on to our gallery to see the pictures.
Walk and Trot Dressage Test.
Well done to all the riders and horses who took part in the walk and trot dressage test on the 19th August. Everyone tried their very best and the standard was very high, which showed in the overall results as they were very close indeed. 1st Place went to Alice on Milo, 2nd Place was Kimberley on Abi, 3rd Place went to Kilian on Ocean, 4th Place was Georgia on Shadow and 5th Place was Emma on Jessie. All riders were presented with a rosette and a scoring sheet to see how they performed and what things they could improve on next time.
Four Acre Trust
Have provided funding for 18-30 year olds to work in expanding a current project for 11-18 year olds.
Henry Smith Foundation
The Henry Smith Foundation have funded The Paddocks for volunteer expenses. This has been a great help to us throughout our summer programme. It has helped to support many young people suffering from mental illness and other health problems by providing them with the extra support they need.
Summer Vproject
The Paddocks has begun a volunteer training project funded by Vproject. we have funding for a qualified trainer to work with all our new volunteers. The project will train 10 new volunteers and include a riding qualification, first aid and child protection training and a free CRB check.
Sport Relief
Gemma, one of our volunteer/participants has applied to sports relief to fund a group of girls and one boy from our local area. These young people are youngsters who loved their ‘taster rides’ so much that they want to do extra days training and take an exam.
Kent Peoples Trust
Kent Peoples Trust has given money to fund the 14-18 years inclusion project.
Optimum resource project
A project to expand on existing projects and utilise existing facilities including more people to train.
Welcome to The Paddock's new website!
We hope to keep the Gallery and these News articles regularly updated. Please also take a moment to visit our sponsors.
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