Josh welcomes riding school grant

A CANONBIE boy is among dozens of children whose lives are being transformed by a funding boost for a riding school near Carlisle.

Josh Graham, 12, has been going to Carlisle Riding for the Disabled, based at Blackdyke Riding School, for seven years now.

The group is one of 20 grassroots sports clubs given a funding boost by Fibrus’ Play It Forward Fund, which provides grants of up to £1000 to help buy equipment and kits or to improve facilities.

Josh is delighted it has been supported and said: “I’ve been coming here for over seven years and I absolutely love it. Riding helps keep me fit and helps build up muscles I wouldn’t normally use.

“I’ve ridden Toby for those seven years. I love riding Toby, he’s a very special horse. I’ve taken part in the national championship three times now and finished third in the countryside challenge event on two occasions.”

Carlisle Riding for the Disabled, which is part of a national charity and dependent on volunteers, has been providing riding lessons to children and adults with disabilities in the area since 1972, and currently looks after 24 children aged under 11 and 22 aged 12 to 17.

Their equipment gets heavy wear over the years and can be damaged or contaminated. Fibrus’ £1000 grant will be used to replace this and help ensure the children can ride safely.

Linda McMillan, from Fibrus, added: “We are committed to playing a role in improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people, so investing in local communities is very important to us.”