Welcome to the Parish Church in Park Hill Croydon
Junior Choir Outing
Members of the Junior Choir visit the Diamond Riding Centre for the disabled.
On the evening of Friday 26 June eight members of the St Matthew's Junior Choir, along with Jo Torring, Michael Thomas, David Stratford and some accompanying parents, met in the church car park for an outing to the Diamond Centre for Disabled Riders in Carshalton. This visit had been organised by Jo, who is a long-serving volunteer at the centre.
On arrival at the Centre we were met by Angela, the centre administrator. She told the children about the history of the centre and the work currently being done there, with all the wonderful benefits to disabled children and adults.
We learned that the Diamond Centre is a registered charity and receives no government or local authority funding. They have to rely on fees, fundraising events, donations and legacies, and of course the 250 per week volunteer instructors and helpers. Friday nights are for adult riders, so we watched some of them having their session, with the horses being led by the volunteers. We then went on a tour of the centre, visiting some of the horses in their stalls on the way. We saw the tack room and learned how important it is to keep the tack clean to prolong its life, and also saw some of the tack specifically designed for disabled riders. On the way back we saw the riders finishing their session, and saw the specially adapted ways that some of them use to dismount. We were then able to meet Fudge, one of the horses who had just been working. The children all got the opportunity to stroke her nose and see her close up.
After the tour finished we were provided with drinks and biscuits and had the opportunity to ask Angela some questions and thank her, before making our way back to Croydon.
Many thanks to Jo for organising this very interesting and eye-opening visit.