Wednesday, 04 January 2023
Kingsleigh’s Equine Education Centre, based at Worcester Riding School, a Pony Club centre, has taken part of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) initiative which was introduced by the government to provide a safe environment for children in receipt of free school meals during the school holidays.
The centre has been running the HAF programme throughout the Christmas, Easter, and summer holidays to provide a space for children in and around the city of Worcester to have fun and be supplied with a nutritional meal each day. With 21 spaces available on the camp, the centre supports children with special educational needs and disability (SEND), as well as working with children from Ukraine.
Some of the activities the children took part in during the HAF days include:
Both Kingsleigh’s and Worcester Riding School have been able to collaborate and assist with the HAF scheme due to each one’s abilities to support the different needs of the various children and support many local families.
“We have an amazing team working at the yard made up of highly experienced teachers and childcare professionals. We feel the success of the HAF programmes we have run is down to the level of senior and experienced staff we have on site.” explains Deni Harper-Adams from Worcester Riding School. “During the HAF schemes, we have very much encouraged the riding school Pony club children to help and support those on the HAF programme. This has certainly helped foster an ethos of inclusion, support and understanding of the HAF children's needs amongst the Pony Club children.”
The centre has taken a child from each HAF programme cohort and given them much subsidised pony club activities and lessons going forward, ensuring the HAF programme continues with a legacy.
Read more about how Kingsleigh's Equine Education Centre is helping children through the HAF programme.
More information on the HAF programme can be found here.
To read their case study on our website, click here.