A community group on the Isle of Wight, which supports the Island’s ageing dementia population through equine assisted learning, is calling for your vote to help secure £50,000 of National Lottery funding as part of this year’s People’s Projects.
Bodster CIC, based in Sandford on the outskirts of Godshill, is 1 of 5 groups in the ITV Meridian West region in the running for a share of £150,000 of funding. Only 3 Groups will be allocated the funding based on the highest number of votes received.
‘Whispering Ponies’ is the only Island project in the competition, which sees ITV Meridian and The National Lottery team up to give the public a chance to decide how National Lottery funding should be put to good use in their local area.
If successful, Bodster will use the grant to offer equine therapy sessions for older people in residential homes and day care centres. The project will work with people with dementia and those who are socially isolated to encourage interaction with their ponies. Bodster also wants to invite local schools along, when appropriate, in order to encourage their understanding of dementia. The project aims to stimulate social interaction and improve wellbeing for everyone involved.
Part of the £50,000 would enable Bodster to buy its own small horsebox so that they would not need to borrow or rent and consequently would be able to visit more residences and develop new visits such as to Macmillan cancer hospice and other community facilities. Other parts of the grant would be used for staffing costs and to train more volunteers. New equipment, such as a portable printer and laminator, will also be purchased to produce individual memory photographic sheets for each client visited, making these visits more personal and giving them immediate feedback to keep.
Jo Boddington of Bodster CIC says:
“This is an exciting opportunity to raise awareness and support for our work and, with your help, to secure further much-needed funding. We urge local Island people to get behind us.
“If successful, our project will make a real difference to our local community in Sandford and by visiting more homes we will be able to expand our reach and respond to the community’s requests.
Article continues below this advertisement “We will integrate people through more volunteers coming on visits. We want to develop intergenerational activities by engaging younger volunteers and school children who come to general sessions in being involved with people with Dementia. We want to break down barriers using their common love of the ponies.”
On Friday 20th April, Bodster CIC will showcase its project on the ITV Meridian regional news at 18:00. To be in with a chance of winning, Bodster CIC is calling on viewers to vote for them. Voting opens at 09:00 on Monday 16th April at www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk and closes at midday on Monday 30th April.
You can find out more about Bodster CIC at https://www.facebook.com/BodsterEquineAssistedLearningCentre and https://www.eaqbodster.co.uk/.
