Orange ROCKCORPS

How To Get Involved?

Volunteers can help out in a number of ways, from mucking out to helping with admin and the management of the stables. Volunteers are given training and learn new skills through volunteering. It is possible for volunteers to work for rides and to gain valuable work experience in working with children with special needs and behavioural problems.

Mission Statement/Purpose

Stepney Bank Stables, Newcastle’s Inner City Community Horse Project is unique, being the only such project in the country. The aim of Stepney Bank is to use horses as a tool, to motivate, educate and pass on key social skills, enabling many individuals from deprived backgrounds to develop new interests, gain self-esteem and have fun.

Charity Profile

Stepney Bank Stables opened in 1992 and started with only 2 donkeys.It now has space for 27 horses and ponies and has over 400 regular users. In 2001, thanks to a number of grants, Stepney Bank added an indoor arena to it's stables which allowed them to be able to work with many different groups of people, such as those with mobility problems that would get too cold or wet riding outside, or, schools that can only visit depending on the weather. As well as these groups, Stepney Bank Stables has a particular appeal to young people, including excluded individuals. Their core values are community involvement and social inclusion and their activities are designed to be fun, healthy and varied using the appeal of the horse to promote youth and volunteer development. Volunteering at Stepney Bank Stables can give young people valuable work experience, an opportunity to learn many new skills and can provide a unique atmosphere where teenagers can work alongside adults with learning difficulties to form a team with a common interest. Stepney Bank Stables run pony days, masterclass workshops, an annual summer camp, beach rides and birthday rides and riding lessons and a pony academy at weekends and during the summer holidays. There are lots of opportunities to get invovled with volunteering at Stepney Stabels, one volunteer Sarah, who is 16 years old, has been volunteering and riding at Stepney for 7 years. “I really enjoy it” she says, “the best thing about volunteering here is that is gives me the chance to work around horses and improve my skills in horse care and riding. When I volunteer I mostly help care for the horses but I also help by leading younger, less experienced riders in their lessons.” Sraha is being provided with training and skills to take her BHS (british Horse Society) exams and is plannign to study equine management. By choosing to ride with Stepney Bank you can not only have a fantastic time, learn valuable skills whilst keeping fit but you will also be helping people less advantaged than yourself.