Member Article

Local housebuilder supports the Washington Riding Centre with £1,000 donation

Local five star housebuilder, Barratt Developments North East, is continuing to support charities and organisations in the areas in which it builds with its monthly Community Fund initiative. This month, the housebuilder is supporting Washington Riding Centre, an organisation that works to provide riding lessons for children and adults with disabilities and special educational needs in the Washington region.

The £1,000 Community Fund donation comes after employees from Barratt Developments North East donated a day to help the organisation build a new sensory trail. Washington Riding Centre was put forward by Barratt Developments North East employee, Karen Velleman, who heard how hard the organisation works to support the local community by providing riding lessons for approximately 130 children and adults with a range of disabilities and special educational needs, whilst also integrating disabled and non-disabled people in an equal, safe and positive environment.

In addition to this, Washington Riding Centre delivers a ‘Disability Awareness Through Animals’ workshop in schools to give children the opportunity to get up close to horses and learn about them, their environment, and their care, as well as to raise disability awareness and encourage volunteering and care within the community.

Paula Archer, Chair of Washington Riding Centre said: “We are extremely grateful to Barratt Developments for their generous donation. Their support will go towards the planning and implementing of various sensory areas for the sensory walk, and will also help to make a large difference to all those who avail of our support and services throughout Washington.”

Stephen Wooldridge, Technical Director at Barratt Developments North East, commented: “We’re so pleased that our donation to Washington Riding Centre will help them to continue supporting the local community and those who use their services and facilities. We’re constantly looking for ways to support the communities that we build in, and we were really keen to help when we found out about the fantastic services that they offer. We hope that our Community Fund donation will help to make a positive impact on the organisation and local community.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Richard Savage .