Stepney Scholar Success
posted on Thursday 26th August, 2010
Five teenage volunteers at Stepney Bank Stables recently achieved incredible success as part of the Stepney Scholarship Scheme.Stepney Bank Stables is an inner city charity providing horse care and riding experiences to young people who would otherwise never have the opportunity to participate in what is often considered to be a rural and upper class sport.
As one of the only providers of volunteering opportunities to young people in the city Stepney Bank Stables is bursting with enthusiastic teenagers wanting to work hard and learn new skills. The scholarship scheme was devised to provide recognition and reward to those teenagers who set the best example to others through their hard work and good behaviour.
The scholars have received a year of training in both horse care and riding thanks to a generous donation from The Emile Faurie Foundation. Emile is an international dressage rider and former member of the British Olympic squad who recognises the horses’ ability to enrich lives. As a result of this funding plus money from Northumbria Police the scholars we able to sit their British Horse Society Stage 1 exam. This is a professional level qualification requiring candidates to be both confident and competent at demonstrating their equestrian skills! It is a notoriously difficult exam to pass and the incredibly high standards required make this an internationally recognised achievement.
All five scholars rose to the challenge amazingly well and with 100% pass rate! This is not only a huge boost to their self confidence but will also open up new training or employment opportunities to them. Lets hope they follow in the footsteps of previous scholars; Stepney Bank Stables currently employ 3 former scholars with one former scholar now at vet school in Edinburgh and another off to university in September to begin an equine management degree.