Herefordshire community organisations, including Riding for the Disabled, are celebrating after being awarded almost £400,000 in National Lottery funding. The money, raised by players for good causes, is being distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.

In total, 25 community projects ranging from tool-making workshops for people living with disabilities to cooking classes for young families - are receiving a share.

Herefordshire Riding for the Disabled will receive almost £10,000 in National Lottery funding for the Riding Activity Weeks project which will deliver horse riding activities for adults and young people living with physical and learning disabilities. The weekly sessions will take place at Holme Lacy Therapeutic Centre and will involve pony picnic rides where participants will ride the ponies along the fields and stop for a picnic on the way. The project will provide social stimulation as well as therapeutic benefits for riders.

Sarah Fishbourne Development Officer at Herefordshire Riding for the Disabled, said: “The National Lottery funding has helped us to reach more people and to create unique opportunities for disabled people to have fun whilst interacting with the ponies and with each other.”

Other organisations in Herefordshire that have benefitted from National Lottery funding in the last three months include Kids Kitchen Herefordshire, which received over £9,000 to deliver cooking lessons for young families to promote healthy eating.

Herefordshire isn’t alone in enjoying the good news – the West Midlands as a whole is receiving £10 million, which is being distributed across 380 community projects and organisations.

The National Lottery Community Fund is responsible for giving out money raised by National Lottery players for good causes.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.ukSee this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.