Northumberland College has welcomed the Morpeth branch of the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) to its new home at Kirkley Hall Campus’ Equine Centre.
The registered charity’s activities and ponies will be based at the college’s industry-leading educational centre near Ponteland after moving from the Pegasus Centre in Tranwell in early May.
The move follows a period of discussion between Northumberland College, Morpeth RDA, Northumberland County Council and Active Northumberland which reviewed their existing services and the decision made for the group to relocate to a specialist educational riding establishment.
Boasting a new specialist indoor arena, two outdoor arenas, stabling, educational hub, tack room, schooling fields and paddocks positions the specialist education college as a centre of excellence for equine education.
Already providing significant benefits to the local community with a working livery service, facilities hire to local clubs as well as providing Equine education to many students from Level 1 to Level 6, the addition of the RDA provision will enhance the equine offer and provide new opportunities for the wider community.
Northumberland College’s Vice Principal (Quality & Curriculum), Lee Lister, said: “We are delighted to welcome the RDA to our college. The synergy of inclusion, high quality education and training as well as serving the diverse needs of our local community is very clear within this future partnership.
“The added value to both students and clients within the partnership will ensure equity, accessibility and the ability to collaborate more effectively.”
Morpeth RDA is a registered charity giving people with special needs and disabilities the chance to develop their abilities and enrich their lives through riding specially trained ponies.
Providing riding lessons for over 50 years, many of the Group’s riders participate in national RDA events with considerable success.
Michelle Macauley, Chair of Morpeth RDA, added: “The group has enjoyed 13 happy years at the Pegasus Centre, but we now look forward to the continued success and growth of Morpeth RDA in its new home.
“The staff at Kirkley Hall [Campus] have extended a warm welcome to the Group and the ponies are settling in well to their new surroundings.”
We are the largest further education provider in Northumberland with campuses throughout the county.
Our student transport scheme is available for eligible students to make getting to and from college as easy as possible.
Our extensive re-development programme will create outstanding new facilities.
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