The Newmarket Pony Academy (NPA), where young people can enjoy close contact with horses and ponies, will begin in April. Based at the British Racing School (BRS), the NPA is supported by The Sir Peter O'Sullevan Charitable Trust and Godolphin and has been working closely with local schools and the West Suffolk Council. The NPA will operate a range of programmes to meet the needs of different groups of young people. Some of the programmes offered are as follows:
- One-week courses for Year 6 pupils from local primary schools which will introduce them to ponies whilst making use of a different learning environment to engage them in core subjects. These courses will build on the curriculum, which students are studying, whilst also building confidence and resilience.
- Breakfast, afterschool and holiday clubs for local young people identified by teachers and social workers as at risk of being drawn into criminality or likely to face challenges as they move from primary to secondary school. It is hoped that engaging with the NPA regularly will give these young people a positive constant in their lives.
- One day per week course for students from The Newmarket Academy Polaris centre. The centre provides bespoke and individual education for young people in Years 7 to 11 with communication and interaction needs. It is well established that interaction with horses and ponies is of great benefit to this group of young people. You can find out more about the Polaris centre here.
- Working in partnership with existing urban riding clubs such as the Urban Equestrian Academy in Leicester and the Ebony Horse Club in Brixton, the NPA will provide their members with an opportunity to attend residential weeks at the BRS to learn about racehorses and the wider racing industry.
- The NPA will also provide the opportunity to re-establish a Newmarket Riding For the Disabled (RDA) group.
Andrew Braithwaite, British Racing School Finance Director, said, “The case for racing becoming more open and inclusive is clear and the NPA will allow us and the wider industry to give young people a real insight into horseracing regardless of their background and, for those bitten by the bug, a route into the industry. I would like to extend a huge thank you to the Sir Peter O'Sullevan Trust for their generous support of this project and to the team at Godolphin for their vision and drive.”
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