Let's Get Brixton Riding
From "THINC Fund Large Projects (£25,000-£50,000)"
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Total amount of funding requested: £40,000
What will your project deliver?
At Ebony Horse Club, we believe every young person deserves the chance to ride high, on a horse and in life. Let’s Get Brixton Riding gives children and teenagers in our community the chance to care for horses, learn new skills, and grow in confidence, right here in the heart of Brixton.
With your support, we’ll continue running weekly riding lessons, horse care sessions, mentoring, and volunteering opportunities. We’ll help young people take positive risks, make friends, and discover what they’re capable of. This funding will help us care for our horses, keep our staff in place, and continue offering this unique experience to more than 150 young people each week.
Which group(s) or communities is your project intended to support?
We work with young people from Brixton and nearby areas who want a space to belong, to be active, and to build their confidence. Many live close by in the estates that surround our yard, often without easy access to green space or animals. We focus on supporting young people from low-income backgrounds, who may otherwise not have the opportunity to access horses.
Our club is a little pocket of calm in the middle of the city. It’s a place where young people can leave behind the noise of everyday life, breathe fresh air, and find joy in caring for horses. Everyone is welcome.
What difference will it make?
The difference we see is incredible. Horses are magic - they help young people slow down, listen, and learn to trust themselves and others. Our riders grow stronger physically, socially, and emotionally. They gain skills for life: teamwork, communication, and leadership.
Many of our young people have gone on to work in animal care, equine studies, youth work, and community leadership. Others volunteer with us, supporting younger riders and giving back to the place that helped them. We see shy young people find their voice, energetic ones learn patience, and all of them discover pride in what they achieve.
How will this funding help your community?
This grant will help cover the essential costs that keep Ebony Horse Club running - feed and care for our horses, wages for our dedicated instructors and youth workers, and maintenance of our small urban stables. These are the foundations that allow us to offer safe, free activities to local young people every week.
By supporting us, you’re helping Brixton’s young people build brighter futures. You’re helping them stay active, gain confidence, and feel connected to their community.
Why do you think your project will be a success?
Because it already is. For over a decade, Ebony Horse Club has been part of Brixton’s community - creating a thriving community yard where young people achieve incredible things. It costs us around £500,000 every year to run our ride and ensure we remain free at the point of access, so every donation has a huge impact.
Our team knows the power of horses to change lives. We’ve seen young people grow from nervous first riders into confident mentors and leaders. With your support, we can keep those gates open and make sure even more young people in Brixton get the chance to ride, learn, and shine.
Hear it from our young people here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18JqYF6AvplHZ0_yBcpB76Zpn3AWEVWsw/view?usp=sharing