One of our lovely volunteer cadets, Allegra Gray as part of the young reporters scheme, has written a superb article about the Autumn Fair. A scheme that gives 14 to 18-year-old school students a chance to write for a real newspaper. Find out more at the Young Reporter website.
The Diamond Centre for Disabled Riders is a charity, located in Carshalton, that provides quality horse riding lessons to children and adults with physical and learning disabilities.
The Diamond strives to develop key skills, such as muscle control, balance and co-ordination, whilst simultaneously boosting confidence in people who join in with the lessons and activities on offer.
A volunteer and member of staff at the Diamond Centre describes the centre as ‘A special place’ and ‘Therapeutic for those that take part in the activities’.
This shows how volunteering is not only supporting the people who take part in activities, but it is also beneficial for volunteers.
This is especially the case in such a supportive, and community centred environment like the Diamond Centre.
The Diamond holds an annual autumn fair in order to raise money to help keep the centre running.
Holding an annual fair is not only a chance to raise money, but it is an opportunity to bring community together, and strengthen the readily strong sense of belonging.
The Autumn Fair involves a multitude of activities such as a band, carnival games, small business pop up shops, pony rides, and even more.
There truly is something to do for everyone there.
2024 showed the Diamond Centre great success.
From the weather behaving itself to the smiles on visitors and volunteers faces alike it was a great day, with donations amounting to over £22,000.
The Diamond Centre Autumn Fair is the epitome of how lots of smaller donations can amount to a larger outcome.
Larger outcomes like these show the power of working together, and how small actions can amalgamate into greater benefits for those who get the most out of the Diamond Centre’s services.
An air cadet who volunteered on the day of the fair stated that ‘Many memories were made here and I would definitely come back next year…’
Evidently, the Diamond Centre for Disabled Riders is an amazing charity, which is wholly deserving of the great successes that they achieved in the Autumn Fair and continue to achieve all year round.