Awards For All – Ponies Connecting Communities

Thanks to receiving an Awards for All Grant to run our project “Ponies connecting Communities”. we have run some sessions reducing the stigma around ageing and encourage local community cohesion using equine therapy. The funding supported 20 people over the age of 50 to run sessions for younger adults, teaching them crafts and encouraging them to engage with nature. As a result of this project people produced some craft work including making bird boxes and a team Christmas Wreath and they helped us run a very successful Christmas Fair at Ventnor Cricket Ground. The funds raised from this event will go towards us being able to continue to take ponies to visit people in Residential homes on the Island. We are working throughout this year on increasing our funds for visits through our Give as You Live Page “Team Bodster” please see our donation link to Team Bodster

Isle of Wight Challenge Walk –
30th April/ 1st May 2022

Hi – Due to Coronovirus Ultra challenge has postponed the Isle of Wight challenge so we will be walking it next year 2022 instead so longer to thus raise funds – hence change of date range – and hopefully we will be able to go out to visit Residential homes again soon – Thanks to everyone who has donated so far please keep donating if you can Stay safe everyone Thanks Jo and Giles

WE WON!! 3476 VOTES!

Thank you for helping us to win National Lottery Funding!!

Jo and Giles would like to send a massive Thank You to everyone who voted for ‘Whispering Ponies’ in the People’s project. Massive thanks to everyone who has worked so hard to help Bodster CIC get votes both on the Island and the mainland. It shows how a community and people pull together.

“It means we can buy the horse box. It means we can use the money to train up volunteers. It means we can carry this on and develop it and produce immediate photographs to give to people we visit. It means we can visit lots and lots of places on the Island with our ponies and develop an intergenerational project where young and old can share their love of ponies.”

Michael Lilley, IOW Councillor

“Bodster CIC is an amazing community project which helps so many especially those with dementia, learning difficulties, mental health issues, and young people in care. I have seen it in action and seen them work with individuals that have not responded well to other forms of therapy but responded amazingly to the Bodster ponies. They get amazing outcomes for the most marginalised in our community and deserve to be finalists and win. If they win, the Island will gain much needed funding.

It is important to note that over the years Isle of Wight Council has supported Bodster through grants from Community and Adult Education and they always over exceeded their outcomes so IW Council should highlight Bodster as a project of Excellence. We can share in their success. I am so proud they are finalists.“