Get ready to double your impact with The Big Give Christmas Challenge at Calvert Exmoor!
Hold on to your Santa hats, folks – it’s that time of year when one donation does TWICE the good! This December, we’re thrilled to be part of The Big Give Christmas Challenge, where your generosity goes further. Imagine doubling every penny you give – yes, you read that right! Every pound donated between 3rd and 10th December will be matched pound-for-pound. Two pounds for the price of one? Now that’s what we call festive spirit!
Why do we need your help?
As a charity, we’re always on the lookout for funds to keep Calvert Exmoor thriving. You might remember our emergency appeal over the summer – a one-time push to keep the centre going. But the Big Give Christmas Challenge is a whole different opportunity: a national campaign with the power to grow bigger and better every year. And this year? It’s all about the HORSES!
What’s the Big Give?
The Big Give is like a magical platform that pairs big-hearted donors with equally big-hearted charities (like us!). For one week, when you donate, large donors match it, turning your donation into double the impact. Think of it as having a generosity fairy godmother doubling the good you’re doing.
The Big Give Christmas Challenge – 3rd to 10th December
It’s a whirlwind week! For seven days only, you donate online through the Big Give website, and the wonderful Rotary Club of Barnstaple Link, and The Reed Foundation, will make sure every penny you give is doubled. But remember, this only works through our campaign page on the Big Give website, so get ready to click that donate button!
A huge thank you to the Rotary Club of Barnstaple Link and The Reed Foundation for their generious support.
How Calvert Exmoor is getting involved
We’re saddling up for this challenge by focusing on the stars of our Equestrian Centre – the horses. From their snazzy new bridles to comfy rugs, essential footcare, veterinary visits, and field upkeep – your donation directly supports the four-legged champions at Calvert Exmoor.
Join our festive fundraiser: walking Land’s End to John O’Groats (sort of…)
We’re rallying our community to join us on a festive walking challenge around Wistlandpound Reservoir. From 3rd to 10th December, we’re attempting to walk the equivalent distance from Land’s End to John O’Groats, one lap at a time. That’s 440 laps around the reservoir, and we need a team effort to make it happen!
Whether you’re a member of staff, a volunteer, a friend, a local business, or just someone looking for a good excuse to get outdoors, come along, grab some laps, and get sponsored. Every step helps raise funds – and awareness – for our Christmas Challenge.
Why this matters
Our horses provide life-changing experiences to people with disabilities, helping them grow in confidence, independence, and joy. By supporting their wellbeing, you’re giving the gift of these incredible moments all year long.
More details about how to sign up for the walk are coming soon – so keep an eye out! But if you can’t wait, mark the dates and get your donation ready for the double-goodness between 3rd and 10th December.
Let’s make this Christmas season count, for our horses and the people they inspire.
Shall we remind you?
The Calvert Exmoor Equestrian Centre provides accessible horse-riding lessons and carriage rides at a cost of more than £100,000 each year. Help put the best hoof forward in 2025 by funding essential horseshoes, tack, field fencing and more for happier horses and happier riding experiences for all.
Situation
1 in 5 people in England have a disability or illness (Sport England). Only 44% of disabled people say it’s easy to access outdoor spaces (Activity Alliance). Families with disabilities experience social, physical and emotional isolation (Forgotten Families). While they’re not always visible, the barriers people face to enjoy recreational activities, such as riding, are huge. It is important that we offer the best support, social experiences and access to the outdoors possible through horses.
Solution
Riding for the Disabled (RDA) says riders report an 82% improved ability to build relationships and a 77% increase in confidence. As the sole RDA Centre in North Devon and a leading British Horse Society member, we visually see that riding is a catalyst for positive change, with a butterfly effect that leads to increased self-worth, social skills and emotional resilience. Healthy, happy horses and ponies are truly special and crucial for our growing disabled riding community and centre guests.
Campaign aims and where the money will be spent
- Horseshoes. Currently, there are 14 friendly horses in the Equestrian Centre, each with unique traits and personalities. Yet they all share a constant need for new horseshoes and continued hoof care. A farrier replaces the shoes and treats their hooves every 8 weeks, at a cost of £5,300 a year.
- Anatomical bridles. A horse is steered by a bridle during lessons and hacks. Upgrading them to anatomical bridles, which are better designed for horses’ heads, would give maximum comfort and relieve pressure on sensitive areas around the mouth, for a more relaxed horse. Estimated to cost £100 each, totaling £1,400 in total.
- Rugs and saddles. Rugs are essential for extra warmth in the elements and buying new ones can cost £1,500 a year. A horse has their own saddle which costs around £20 for each refurbishment. Warming rugs and effective saddles ensure riders and horses are comfy and safe, preventing injuries to both.
- Field fencing. The horses rotate fields in groups for their mental well-being. One of the fields has too much ample space for the horses’ needs and its fencing is deteriorated beyond repair. The aim is to create two new fields with brand-new fencing and gates, at a cost of £7,500. This cost includes the quoted materials and VAT to purchase and install field fencing and gates.
- Horse welfare. Our horses must be gentle and patient, an attribute in older horses. Yet with age comes medical issues. Vet bills are unpredictable and sporadic, treatment is given when needed. Callout charges, emergency treatments, worming, vaccinations, dentistry and more are essential and ongoing. The rest of our fundraising target will be put aside to cover the cost of looking after the physical health of the wonderful animals.
Press release sent 12th November 2024:
Help the horses with the Big Give Christmas Challenge at Calvert Exmoor
This December, Calvert Exmoor is proud to join The Big Give Christmas Challenge, aiming to raise £27,000 in just one week to fund essential care for the horses at its Equestrian Centre. These funds will go toward new horseshoes, foot care, bridles, rugs, saddles, field maintenance, and critical veterinary services, ensuring that the horses can continue their life-changing work throughout 2025. Thanks to the generous support from Rotary Club of Barnstaple Link and The Reed Foundation, each public donation will be DOUBLED, making every contribution go twice as far.
To raise awareness and support for this campaign, Calvert Exmoor is inviting the North Devon community to participate in a festive challenge – a ‘walk’ from Land’s End to John O’Groats around Wistlandpound Reservoir. From 3rd to 10th December, supporters will attempt to complete 440 laps around the reservoir, with each lap symbolising part of the journey across the UK. Calvert Exmoor is calling on staff, volunteers, friends, local businesses, and the wider community to join in, complete laps, raise funds, and spread the word.
“Please support horses to transform lives,” says Calvert Exmoor’s Centre Director Jennifer Young.
“This yearly national fundraising event is a popular occasion for charities across the country and we’re very proud to be a part of it now and every year moving forward. This year is all about the 14 precious horses and ponies at the Calvert Exmoor Equestrian Centre. They live on site, are cared for lovingly by staff, volunteers and riders, and collectively provide riding lessons for the North Devon community, specialising in riding for the disabled so we’re a vital service for many people. Happy horses mean happy riders, and we want to put the best hoof forward to ensure their essential needs are covered in 2025.
“To unlock the full £27,000 in matching funds, we’re calling on the community to give generously through our Big Give campaign page between 3rd and 10th and December. We’re also excited to see everyone rally around Wistlandpound Reservoir for our Land’s End to John O’Groats walk! Every lap completed and every pound donated will help support our horses and the life-changing work they do.”
Jennifer adds: “Please come along and do some laps, otherwise the staff will have to tackle all 440 of them. You can park in our carpark for free, grab a map and chat with staff in our reception area, and enjoy walks as a family or group through the countryside for a good cause.”
How to get involved:
- Visit the Calvert Exmoor website for more information about the campaign: calvertexmoor.org.uk/news/christmas-challenge
- Follow Calvert Exmoor’s social media accounts for regular updates
- Go to their campaign page and donate between 3rd and 10th December to double your donation: donate.biggive.org/campaign/a056900002TPUemAAH?c=74370
- Join the Land’s End to John O’Groats “walk” around Wistlandpound Reservoir during the same dates, to help raise awareness and encourage further donations.
About Calvert Exmoor
Located in the heart of North Devon, Calvert Exmoor provides accessible outdoor adventure activities to schools and people with disabilities, focusing on empowerment, independence, and enjoyment. The centre’s equestrian programmes are a cornerstone of this mission, offering therapeutic riding experiences that enhance confidence and connection.
About Big Give
Big Give is a registered charity (1136547) that connects charities with match funders and the public to double donations through match-funding campaigns. Since its launch, Big Give has raised over £236 million for charities across the UK. The Christmas Challenge is Big Give’s flagship campaign, supporting charities during the festive season and making every public donation go further.