About Us

History

Hope in the Valley is a charitable riding group for physically disabled children. Manned entirely by volunteers, its aim is to give these children between the ages of three and sixteen, the opportunity to experience the pleasure, independence and therapeutic benefits that riding a horse brings. Hope in the Valley was founded in 1968 by Mary Gethen, a night nurse at Chailey Heritage who also ran her own riding school for many years. Her experiences as a nurse, caring for disabled children gave her the vision of what could be achieved by both mentally and physically disabled children. Supported by her Godmother, Julia Roper-Caldbeck, Mary recruited anyone who could contribute in any way. She was enthusiastic and instructed with confidence and understanding of the childrens' abilities.

Her aim was always to enable her riders to compete with their peers. To this end, Hope in the Valley children took part in Pony Club rallies and camps, local gymkhanas, RDA dressage competitions and more.

After Mary's death the Group moved from Lewes to Plumpton College where, since 1990, its activities have been centred in the indoor riding school.

Aims

Hope in the Valley is a charitable riding group for physically disabled children. Manned entirely by volunteers, its aim is to give these children between the ages of three and sixteen, the opportunity to experience the pleasure, independence and therapeutic benefits that riding a horse brings.

Children

Currently we are able to help 30 children aged from 6 to 16. We accept physically disabled children, from within the Mid-Sussex area, who would benefit from riding. At present our catchment area stretches from Eastbourne to Portslade and inland to Burgess Hill and Lindfield.

How We Operate

Volunteers at Hope in the Valley have a variety of roles; "horsy" people to lead ponies and others to walk alongside the child riders, helping and encouraging them.

In the first two sessions each child may need three helpers. Tea ladies give drinks and biscuits to the children before their journeys home and reviving tea to thirsty helpers. We also have drivers, as the children need to be returned home after riding (and so do the ponies).

The reward of this work is to see children, who initially need a lot of help, grow into capable young people who can ride independently and with the minimum of assistance.

How We Achieve Our Aims

Hope in the Valley riding sessions are on Wednesday afternoons in term time.

There are four sessions between 1.30 and 5.0. Initially novice riders are introduced to the basic principles of both riding a pony and horse care. The aim is to awaken and foster innate motivation so that riders can realise their potential at their own pace, taking into account their physical needs.

Once a rider is well on the way to achieving independence they move to the third session, taught our Senior Instructor, Lesley Morrill, who is also the East Sussex County Instructor for the Riding for the Disabled Association.

By the time riders progress to the fourth session they are able to ride independently.

At all stages the children are encouraged to take RDA Grade exams and cups for progress and endeavour are awarded twice yearly.

Riding activities include:

• Regular riding sessions at Plumpton College on Wednesday afternoons in the term time
• Country hacks, picnic rides, fun days, gymkhanas, dressage competitions and RDA grade tests
• Horse and pony care sessions including watching the farrier at work

Facilities

Hope In The Valley uses the facilities at Plumpton College.

Click for location map.

Duty Of Care

Hope in the Valley has adopted a Child Protection Policy which includes rigorous enrolment procedures and disclosures from the Criminal Records Bureaus for volunteers. All volunteers are encouraged to attend Child Protection training courses and are supported by the Hope in the Valley Child Protection Officer Policy.

In accordance with the recommendations in the RDA Membership Manual, Hope in the Valley seeks to:

- have a high level of awareness of the issues;
- act to prevent any possible breaches;
- recognise and report any such breaches.

Action

The Trustees of Hope in the Valley will:

(a) Appoint a Child Protection Officer with authority to act on behalf of the Trustees if any suspicion of child abuse is reported by a volunteer or noted.
(b) Encourage training for:
- all volunteers to take the Educare Child Protection Awareness course, or any other appropriate training.
- the Group Organiser and all Instructors to attend a BHS Child Protection Course.
- all volunteers to attend RDA Child Protection Courses if/when they become available.
(c) Inform all volunteers of Hope in the Valley policy on Child Protection.
(d) Distribute notes on Good Practice for Volunteers.
(e) Follow RDA recommendations on the enrolment of all volunteers.
(f) Ask for Disclosures from the CRB on new volunteers who will be in contact with child riders unless there is a good reason not to do so; e.g. the volunteer can produce a recent Disclosure, or is a young person on a temporary placement who will be supervised during riding sessions.
(g) Regularly review the Policy and Good Practice for Volunteers.

Please click for further details of our policy

Official Documents

Annual Review
Trustees' Report and Accounts


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