At Ride High, the Christmas season serves as an important reminder of the values that strengthen communities, such as kindness. Each year, the children of Milton Keynes charity Ride High undertake a festive project designed to help them understand the impact of giving back and to highlight that small acts of kindness can create meaningful change.
Ride High is a charity that supports vulnerable and disadvantaged children in the community through an equine-based therapy programme. The children learn to ride and care for horses, while also building friendships, developing social skills, and growing in confidence and resilience. The programme ensures children leave Ride High as happier, more confident individuals with tools that support them in the future.
Recently, the Ride High clubroom has been busy as the children designed and created handmade gifts, decorations and cards as part of their Christmas project for the residents of Beckett House Care Home, Loughton.
The Christmas project gives the children the opportunity to think about the needs of others and why their gifts matter, encouraging them to understand empathy, thoughtfulness and a shared sense of purpose. The project also works on developing teamwork and problem-solving skills – whether they are collaborating on designs or creating their gift, the children learn to support one another and take pride in producing something meaningful. They understand that their efforts will bring joy to others, which gives them a sense of achievement and self-worth.
Some of the children will also have the opportunity to deliver their gifts in person. Accompanied by Ride High staff, they will visit Beckett House, experiencing first-hand the impact their creations have on others and showing the children that they can make a tangible difference in the community.
This year’s Christmas project has been kindly sponsored by Toyota Community Fund, having been nominated by Steven Eagell Toyota, Milton Keynes. In addition to funding this festive project, the company has also generously loaned an electric vehicle to the charity through its Toyota Community Loan Vehicle Programme. This vehicle is providing essential free transport for the charity’s children enabling them to get to and from their sessions at Ride High.
Each week, 120 children attend the programme at Ride High, so support from Toyota and Steven Eagell is invaluable in helping the charity deliver its programme to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in the community.
This year, the importance of giving back feels particularly significant. Local charities are experiencing rising pressure with increasing demand on services, particularly those supporting mental health. Charities, such as Ride High, rely on the generosity of individuals and businesses to enable them to continue to offer their vital service.
The children’s Christmas project demonstrates the true spirit of the festive period. Through kindness, it can help build stronger communities and give vulnerable children the confidence and resilience to succeed in the future.
For more information on how to support Ride High visit our website here.
