Crisis-hit special riding centre in North Wales is saved!

A special riding centre in North Wales that was facing imminent closure has raised a remarkable £300,000 to secure its future.

PHOTO: Clwyd Riding Centre

Clwyd Special Riding Centre in Llanfynydd, near Wrexham, is a fully accessible and inclusive centre for a wide variety of equine-based activities, for people of all ages with a wide range of disabilities and additional needs, including mental health and well-being.

The Centre opened in 1982 and is an approved Riding for the Disabled Association and British Horse Society Centre.

In April, the centre launched an "all or nothing" appeal to raise £365,000 - a full year's running costs - or devastatingly face closing the centre on 1 May.

Weeks later, there was a positive update when they received a lifeline that allowed them to stay open for another two moths, while fundraising continued in earnest.

And this week they have announced that the centre is safe.

They said: "Thanks to a huge amount of kindness, support and work, and an incredible recent pledge to guarantee our reduced target of £300,000, we can announce WE WILL REMAIN OPEN.

"Together, we’ve achieved the extraordinary. Whether you donated, shared our story, or simply talked about Clwyd Special Riding Centre, you played a vital role in this moment. We are truly in awe of your generosity and belief in our mission. Words will never be enough to express our gratitude to you all.

"The strength of this campaign lies in the community that rallied behind it. From generous one-off donations to corporate pledges and creative fundraising initiatives, every bit of support has made a difference.

However the fundraising goes on: "We need to canter on to the finish line. We’ve now set a stretch target which will stay open until 11:55pm on Friday, 23 May.

"Although we adjusted our minimum target to £300,000, reaching our original goal of £365,000 would enable us to rebuild. These final few days are a vital window for us to strengthen our foundations, bolster our reserves, and give ourselves the best possible chance at long-term sustainability.

Volunteers at the centre recorded a video thanking supporters (pictured). They said: "We all want to say a massive thank you for saving the riding centre. We don't know where we'd be without Clwyd Special Riding Centre and we've got a future!"