Pony charity avoids closure 'but not out of woods'

Business development manager Faye Bedford pictured with a pony called Magic

A closure-threatened community riding school in Liverpool has been reprieved - at least for now.

Park Palace Ponies, set up in Dingle in 2017 to offer inner-city children aged five to 10 the chance to look after animals and learn how to ride, had been due to shut its doors on 28 June due to a lack of funding.

Since details of the riding school's financial difficulties were publicised, however, it has raised £30,000 of its £300,000 target.

The charity has also secured a grant which will help it look at ways to expand its activities, with the aim of generating enough income to be sustainable in the long-term.

The charity has won plaudits for its work, including a Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

It has been funded by fees for riding lessons and from money provided by an anonymous benefactor.

That benefactor can no longer afford to provide support due to rising costs.

Park Palace Ponies chairwoman Pam Allen (left) poses with Millie while staff member Megan Turley stands behind Jessie

The grant, from the Angus Irvine Playing Fields Foundation, has allowed the charity to hire a business development manager, Faye Bedford.

Ms Bedford stressed to BBC Radio Merseyside that while the funding would allow Park Palace Ponies to stay open this summer, "we're not out of the woods just yet".

She added: "We've got to continue gaining support, continue with the fundraising - so I'm looking at strategies that will help with that and help Park Palace to thrive long-term."

Ms Bedford said she wanted the charity to become an equestrian centre approved by the Pony Club, and to provide an equine-assisted therapy service.

She said: "I can see some of the staff that have been here a long time, and they've put their heart and soul into it.

"It's just so nice for them to know that they've got a promising future now."