The Alkham Valley Community Project

The project now boasts an extra 7 First Aiders after the 'Bright Sparks' portacabin became the venue for a first aid training day. The day course was delivered by 4 Care and South Kent College. Well done everyone, and thank you.

The portacabin has proved useful yet again, this valuable facility was funded by the Dover District Partnership Group and Kent County Council Campus Reprovision Team and provides classroom space and social area for all participants.

A very interesting event resulted from the physiotherapy training day hosted by the AVCP. A 'have a go' riding lesson and demonstration on the physical benefits of sitting astride a horse or riding in carriage was followed by a talk entitled Therapeutic Riding and Hippotherapy. The talk covered therapeutic riding, equine assisted learning, equine facilitated psychotherapy and hippotherapy.

The garden project is now sporting a smart new bird feeder. The table has been made by carriage driver Stephen Holland who presented the table to the AVCP garden. Stephen has been very supportive of the project, his last fundraising led to the purchase of the portable disabled toilet unit.  Our thanks go to Steve, his donation gets the ball rolling for the AVCP small animal unit.

A day trip for club members to see the "Magic of the Horse" at the Towerlands in Essex was an enjoyable day for all. Much cheering and clapping accompanied the acts which included the Mini Marvels, jousting knights, vaulting, high spped carriage driving, musical quadrilles and western riding. Loud music and amusing commentary kept the excitement going and made for a fun day out, it also laid the seed of an idea, for a home grown event back at the stables! 

A friendly horse show was held  during the Easter Holidays, mainly "in-house " a few local riders drifted along to join in the fun. The aim was to raise more money for show jumps and the event was another of Emmas fundraising plans. The day was enjoyed by all and raised over £150 pounds.

Staff, volunteers and young drivers enjoyed an informative slide show narrated by Joy Claxton. Some of Joy's slides were taken on set, when her career took her into the film industry and featured actors dressed in authentic costume alongside historic horse drawn carriages.The slides detailed the enormous range of carriages that evolved over the ages, begining with the very first horse-drawn contraptions and finishing with the modern three-phase competition vehicle. Many thanks to Joy for an enjoyable evening.