Heading into autumn and the new academic term, Ride High, a local children’s charity, has welcomed over 120 new children to its programme.
September marks an exciting and hopeful time as the children embark on their journey with Ride High. For many, returning to school can be daunting, especially for those facing additional challenges such as mental health issues, economic hardship or family instability and during this time the support that Ride High offers becomes even more essential.
Ride High becomes a safe space for the children, giving them a place to be themselves, have fun and grow in confidence. Attending the weekly sessions provides a sense of stability which is often lacking in their lives. As the charity is self-funded, collaboration with local businesses is vital to enable it to offer its service year after year, and there are many ways to get involved.
In addition to welcoming new children, the start of the term also sees many new volunteers committing their time to assist with the children’s sessions. As corporate volunteering is becoming more popular, Ride High hopes organisations will consider releasing employees for a couple of hours a week, over a term, to support the running of sessions. Volunteering provides individuals with a personal and impactful experience, allowing them to work directly with the children and watch them progress over their time at Ride High.
Working with Ride High will develop a firm’s corporate social responsibility programme. Businesses can collaborate with Ride High by choosing it as their Charity of the Year, which comes with huge benefits, including increased staff engagement and fostering a sense of community within the workplace while also giving back to a worthy cause.
The charity’s fundraising events are another means by which organisations can show their support. From the annual ball to football tournaments there is something for everyone. These events generate a significant proportion of the charity’s funds, so by attending or sponsoring these events businesses are contributing to the charity’s growth and enabling it to continue to support vulnerable and disadvantaged children in the local area.
Donations to Ride High’s fundraising appeals are another way in which businesses can make a difference and ensure that Ride High is meeting the needs of children in the community. The charity is currently raising funds for a new vehicle to replace its old one, which is becoming increasingly unreliable. All the children referred to Ride High are offered free transport, ensuring it remains accessible to everyone. Each year the drivers cover over 15,000 miles transporting children to and from the site; without this transport service many children would be unable to attend their sessions making it a vital resource.
So, whether it is through donations, volunteering time or simply spreading the word about its important work, every contribution makes a world of difference to the children at Ride High.
To find out more about supporting Ride High contact jerry.taylor@ridehigh.org or visit www.ridehigh.org/howcompaniescanhelp
