Greatwood’s Presentation Day, awarding students for their achievements

This morning, Thursday 10 July Greatwood held their Presentation Day celebration where they recognised the achievements of the many – more than 200 – children and young people with additional needs who had been supported over the past year by the Greatwood Charity, who had spent time at Greatwood and been able to become involved and learn.

Greatwood is a charity that is there to support and look after former racehorses. But it’s key role is what they describe as ‘Animal Assisted Intervention’ where they are able to educate people with additional needs and are probably the only such charity anywhere in the UK. regarding their horses, they will never turn away a horse at risk. roughly half of all the racehorses rehomed at Greatwood are used in their AAI educational programme.

Today was about recognising the young people who have been supported and helped by Greatwood. the charity works with many schools, mainly local such as St Mary’s in Marlborough and Pewsey Vale just down the road and this year they have helped two hundred and thirty learners from all of these schools and partner agencies, such as Wiltshire SEND, Julian House and Youth Adventure Trust.

Greatwood Co-Founder Helen Yeadon MBE welcomed the young people about to receive their certificates of achievement, their friends, families, schools teams and all in the presence of Her Grace The Duchess of Norfolk, Rt Hon Sir Robert Buckland KBE KC, The Vice Lord -Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Lieutenant-General Sir Andrew Gregory, KBE,CB,DL, The Mayor of Marlborough,  Councillor Emily Trow and The Chairman & Managing Director of Retraining of Racehorses, Mr David Thorpe & Mr David Catlow. Greatwood’s efforts are recognised.

Certificates were presented to the the students by Kirsten Disley, Greatwood’s head of Education with comment and reflection on what Greatwood means to schools by Tom Robinson, Pewsey Vale School’s SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator).