A riding for the disabled scheme is to continue thanks to National Lottery funding that has saved it from a “bleak” future.

Woodside Farm Stables Riding for the Disabled, now based at Eastfield Farm, King’s Clipstone, has been awarded £5,999 of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Community Emergency Fund.

The money will go towards essential daily care costs for Woodside’s horses and to cover insurance commitments during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The outbreak of the virus and the consequent shutdown of businesses left the sport and physical activity sector facing a period of uncertainty. In response, on 31st March Sport England announced a £195m package, including a £20m Community Emergency Fund, of National Lottery money to deliver immediate funding to those who have a role in supporting the nation to be active but are experiencing short-term financial hardship or the ceasing of operations due to the impact of coronavirus.

The grant will allow Woodside Farm Stables RDA Relaunch Project to overcome challenges it unexpectedly faced due to the pandemic and allow it to move forward with confidence that the service can be resumed and expanded as soon as restrictions are lifted.

A trustee of the charity, which hopes to resume its service in July, said: “After 49 years operating at Woodside Farm Stables in Rainworth, 21 years of those as an independent charity, a decision late last year to move to Eastfield Farm, King’s Clipstone, promised a secure future with exciting prospects.

“The horses enjoyed a period of rest and acclimatisation. A big relaunch was on track for April 2020, only for the coronavirus pandemic to stop plans before they started.

“With no income from riding donations the future was bleak with development plans put on hold. This timely grant will bridge the gap by meeting bed, breakfast and trotting costs over four months for the horses, as well as regulatory insurance costs.

“It will ensure that our young disabled clients can continue to benefit from the physical, sensory and social experience horse riding provides. The charity is grateful for the vision of Sport England and the National Lottery in providing such support.”

Tim Hollingsworth, Sport England’s Chief Executive, said:

“As the body responsible for the growth of sport and physical activity participation, we want the vital grassroots organisations that make sport and physical activity happen in this country to not just to come through this crisis but to be in a position to thrive again in the future. The £20m Community Emergency fund, made possible by National Lottery players is part of a multimillion pound package of support we are providing to ease the pressure on a huge number of the organisations who are central to the nation’s health and wellbeing.

“We are proud to be able to provide vital funding to Woodside RDA to help it through these extremely challenging times.”