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Disabled horse riders received new helmets as AFM announced the Guernsey group of Riding for the Disabled (RDA) as its charity partner for 2016.
The gift is the first in a long list of initiatives that the Channel Islands’ largest facilities management company has planned for the charity this year, including fundraising events, practical assistance with DIY/ construction and hands-on staff involvement with assistance during riding lessons.
AFM, which celebrated its 50th year in the Channel Islands in 2014 and has over 250 staff in Guernsey, began its search at the end of last year to find a charity to support throughout 2016.
Managing director Mark Edgar said: "The support that this charity provides to so many disabled children and adults is incredible. They put in hours of hard graft each week and we wanted to be able to help them flourish. Initially, we have given the charity £1,000 towards new riding kit which will ensure that their helmets are in line with British Standards, and we also hope to raise at least another £2,000 throughout the year through AFM fundraising events and initiatives.
"As a long-established business in the Channel Islands, AFM is committed to building meaningful and lasting relationships with local community groups, through not only cash donations, but also practical, hands-on assistance. So throughout the year our staff will be on hand to help with remedial work, such as fixing storage sheds and helping to build recreational games for the children to use during their lessons.
"We will also provide assistance from selected trained members of staff who can be called upon at short notice to help with assisting riding lessons throughout the year."
Jenny Hamon, chairman of RDA Guernsey, added: "We are absolutely thrilled to be chosen as AFM’s charity partner for 2016 and we are so grateful that they are able to offer such a fantastic amount of help, from this wonderful donation which has been put towards the purchase of new helmets for our riders through to staff involvement. The rest of the funds will be spent on other crucial pieces of equipment and clothing throughout the year.
"The aim of the RDA is to offer adults and children the opportunity to experience the therapeutic benefits of the horses movement and the pleasure that riding gives. These benefits include freedom of movement, gaining of confidence, relationship building, physiotherapy and a sense of personal achievement. We have a new ride with a small group of four boys from The Base at St Sampson’s High supporting autistic children in mainstream school who will be riding in their lunch hour. It will be fantastic to have AFM staff helping us out as side walkers which means they will be able to give hands on assistance and become actively involved with some of our riding therapy sessions."
