Paws, Ponies and Access to Support
- Claire Evans
- Aug 19
- 3 min read
Following the success of the fun dog show earlier this year, which raised funds for The Avon Centre and Bristol Animal Rescue we are running another one on September 21st 2025.
This one has a twist, it’s also a Charity Open Day giving local charities the opportunity to showcase their services and reach people who may need support and don’t know where to turn.
The Avon Centre is proud to be a recipient of this year’s Co-op Community fund, and are delighted to be able to support other cause recipients, as well as local and national charities in reaching people who would benefit from their services.
“Being lucky enough to be a recipient of the Co-op Community fund is so much more than the financial support. The support from local stores who really want to make a difference to their community is invaluable, and being introduced to so many wonderful charities and being able to explore how we might work together is an opportunity we wouldn’t have had otherwise,” said Claire Evans, the Avon Centre’s Operations Manager. “We are so pleased to be able to do a small amount to be able to support other causes, and there is so much overlap in our participants and these other causes, hopefully people will find something really useful.”
Among the charities attending the day are:
“Co-op member owners asked us to bring their communities together,” Said Sherry Tolson, a Co-op Member Activator. “So, it is fantastic to see the local causes supported by Coop this year coming together to support each other in raising awareness of who they are and what they do. All Coop member owners can support these charities by choosing them as their cause on the Coop app.”
As well as raising awareness of other charities and supporting Bristol Animal Rescue, the day itself is to raise funds for a new arena surface for the Centre.
“A new surface is urgently needed to provide a uniform and predictable surface for the horses to move on, supporting the horses’ legs and ensuring even pressure distribution. This minimises the risk of any slips or uneven strides – reducing concussion.” Says Gill Edwards, RDA Coach and former Trustee at the Avon Centre. “It would also help all our riders to have greater confidence because their horses are more likely to be sure footed. At the same time, and equally important for us as an RDA Centre, the surface needs to be firm and smooth enough to be suitable for our many RDA leaders and side-walkers to walk on during the RDA lessons.”
Arena surfaces are already specialised, but with the added need for it to be suitable for both human and equine to walk on, the Centre is looking at an outlay of approximately £75,000 for the new surface, which is essential for them to continue to support the people who rely on them.
The Centre is running a Crowdfunder to replace the surface, and you can get your activity entries as well as lots of other great rewards on there!
Crowd Funder is an interactive fundraising platform which charities and community groups can use, not only to raise funds, but to win match funding from bigger organisations, potentially doubling what they raise!
There are lots of ways to support the Crowdfunder, from donating, offering a reward – could you offer a fun prize like a singing lesson, or a pet portrait in exchange for a donation, to doing a sponsored event like running a 5k or shaving your head! Sharing on social media, perhaps with a comment about what the Centre means to you will not only help spread the word, but show how important we are to everyone. There are lots of fun Crowdfunder rewards listed already, and more to come.
Find out more about the day on our website, and join our Facebook Event where you can find out more about the charities joining on the day, the stall holders and much more!
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