HRH PRINCE CHARLES BACKS YOUNG EQUESTRIAN VOLUNTEERS
Friday 22 November 2013
His Royal Highness Prince Charles has launched an initiative to encourage more young people to have a positive influence on their community through volunteering projects. Step Up 2 Serve has been launched in line with the Prince of Wales 65th birthday and joins a host of volunteering projects for young people across the country.
One such initiative to encourage young people to volunteer in equestrian sport is the Young Equestrian Leaders Award (YELA) run through the British Equestrian Federation’s (BEF) Hoof legacy programme to encourage participation in the sport. Aimed at 13–25 year olds YELA has been established to recognise the time and effort young volunteers give to equestrianism. The scheme aims to shape their experience and develop their skills as potential leaders of the future.
“YELA has been challenging and so rewarding. The award has encouraged me to branch out of my comfort zone and meet new challenges and new people. I can honestly say it has been of the best things I have ever signed up for” explained Katie Midgley, a YELA candidate.
YELA is delivered by the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) on behalf of the BEF and has been established since 2011. Since its inception 1200 young people have registered and the programme is being offered through schools, further education and higher education colleges including Hartpury College, the College of West Anglia and Sheffield High School.
The progressive award scheme requires varying degrees of volunteering hours and works to introduce and refine responsibility, organisational and communicative skills. YELA also acts as a springboard to a variety of different activities in equestrianism and leadership projects such as the BEF Youth Action Group which has been formed to develop the voice of young people in equestrian sports.
Maggie Still, Head of Participation at the BEF, is grateful of the selflessness of volunteers and realises the impact they have upon their communities and the equestrian industry as whole; “Volunteers are core to equestrian sport whether it is assisting a beginner in The Pony Club or riders with specific needs. They are crucial to all of the programmes we offer from recreational riding to elite competition. Volunteering in sport can be truly rewarding and the BEF in partnership with its member bodies is encouraging young people in particular to get in involved specifically through YELA.”
Eighteen year old Alice Stables has completed her bronze YELA award and is now working toward her silver, she is also part of the BEF Youth Action Group. She commented “It is fantastic to receive recognition for the work we put into the sport, and to give something back when it has given me so much. The Youth Action Group allows us to have a voice that can be heard by the industry.”
Alice continued “I have meet lots of different people across the disciplines through my involvement and we work together in learning about the different youth training programmes and factors that affect participation in the various sports”.
To find out more about the YELA project or the BEF Youth Action Groups visit www.yela.org.uk or email yela@rda.org.uk.
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