Inner city riding school faces closure as costs rise

A charity that provides discount pony riding lessons to inner city children is facing imminent closure, trustees have said.

Park Palace Ponies in Dingle, Liverpool, is funded by the lessons and had also been relying on donations from a benefactor since it was made a charity in September, but the Good Samaritan can no longer afford to support the school amid rising costs.

The school said it had applied for grants but these may take six months to be approved, and it could not afford to keep the school running in the meantime.

"This is a rescue mission, we just need to be able to pay the wages until the new funding comes in," trustee Karen said.

The school offers riding lessons to children between the ages of five and 10.

Set up in 2017, the charity has won several awards for its work including a Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

Karen said the school's electricity bills have doubled, with the cost of hay and vet bills increasing too, but the club has kept its prices the same to keep the sport accessible.

She added the school would have to sell its ponies at the end of April if it could not find a financial solution.

"We offer discount lessons to try and dispel the myth that it's an elitist sport," she said.

"It's also a place where volunteers can come and gain responsibility, make new friends and be in safe space. We want that to continue."

Karen's daughter Maddie used to ride at the school and now volunteers there.

"When you're on a pony you feel free the only thing you can hear is your instructor, when you're jumping you feel like you're flying," the 12-year-old told BBC Radio Merseyside.

"Say you've had a bad day at school, it's so nice to go down and see them."

The school faced closure last year but was saved in September when it was granted charitable status.

As a result, it is now able to apply for grants and funds which will enable it to operate and continue to grow.

Trustee Karen, who works as a grant writer for a higher education institution in Liverpool, said she was brought on to help in January and had been working on applications for the school.

"Applying for those larger funds takes time, it's at least six weeks to write and three to six months for the funders to review so while we get those in place we just need some breathing space," she said.

"We've got great staff and great volunteers. We're really lucky to have them and they're all so dedicate especially in such precarious times.

"We have some big things planned, that's why we're asking for the public's help to keep us going."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.