The York and Ainsty South Hunt Branch of The Pony Club have recently applied for and been awarded a £10,000 ‘Small Grant’ from Sport England.

The Small Grants Programme has been set up to support local community sport projects which seek to increase participation, sustain participation or develop opportunities for people to excel at their chosen sport. The York and Ainsty South Hunt Pony Club Branch, has approximately 100 Members aged four up to twenty two who train and compete at local, regional and national level. The Branch used an e-mail survey to help identify the need for the funding before making their application to Sport England.

“We intend to use the funding to purchase show jumps and portable cross country fences with trailers to carry them” said Maxine Forster a Committee member for York and Ainsty South Hunt Branch, who was involved in the application process. The remaining funds, which are estimated to be approximately £500, will be used to enhance the training opportunities available to Members of the York and Ainsty Hunt South Branch.

On receiving the funds, the Branch will be required to keep a diary, with photos of the allocation and application of the funds, for one year. “Application can seem a little complicated at first” said Maxine, “but the outcome for our Members is very much worth it, and we will certainly be looking to source further funding for items such as games equipment in the future.”