Funders & Associates

Our fantastic Youth Club and their ideas and vision for a biodiverse learning space that was something different, shaped the application for this fund, allowing us to build a nature pond and run workshops on not only the build but ongoing sessions on nature and wildlife.

This fund really brought our site to life and allowed us to connect with nature, and many passionate local creative individuals and businesses. This brought the expansion of our allotment with workshops for young people to learn about growing, finishing with a harvest festival to celebrate arts, community, environment and local produce.

An initiative brought in by the Scottish Government to respond to the rising mental health challenges of over 16s as a result of the pandemic. This wonderful fund has allowed us to develop our equine therapy, life coaching and volunteering programme as well as allowing us to hire a trauma counsellor to deliver in-person somatic healing.

A new funder for us, their community fund has allowed to provide outdoor learning and wellness workshops for isolated members of our rural community.

This fund was to celebrate 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II holding our throne, although we now mourn the loss of such a prominent figurehead in the support of equestrianism and the country. Without this fund, we could not have held such a wonderful and diverse open day.

Supporting us twice, in the first instance supporting 1 staff member and 3 volunteers to progress through coaching and equitation exams. It has also allowed support for young people through their ABRS stable management and equitation certificates. More recently they contributed to the planting of trees and hedgerows to support our carbon negative aims.

SSE have a real focus on renewable energy for Scotland. They funded our solar power installation, infrared heating system, sewage treatment tank and stepped in to assist with repairs after Storm Arwen removed half our barn.

SOSE is the new economic and community assistance agency for the South of Scotland,. They saw the value in our contribution to the local economy and were another key investor in Pastures New.

Another large funder and supporter of Pastures New. Their funding specifically supported us with the design and construction of our beauiful stables, connected our solar power, and contributed to our drainage and infrastructure.

This foundation through Turcan Connell, donated funds to support running costs at our new site, enabling us to provide more opportunities for education, and improving the environment and to support young people's physical and mental health.

Twice now this amazing initiative has supported us to buy and plant the many trees surrounding our eco friendly site with the community and young people on alternative education provision, this has helped improve biodiversity, create habitats, reduce carbon emissions and contribute to our natural ecosystem.

One of the many funders who helped make our move possible and the first funder who said yes, Sport Scotland assisted with capital to make Pastures New a possibility. They contributed to planning, construction, development and material costs. Without this we wouldn't have the stables, office and arena we have now.

Allowed us to develop this fantastic new website in conjunction with Platinum Graphics, and accessories such as digital camera and PIVO for our marketing and growth including our upcoming online shop.

Through our local community picking our cause at the till, our project was recognised and we shared our need for new equipment to support agility, games, and sensory support, benefitting not just riders but also those coming for non ridden sessions, team building and vounteering.

From humble beginnings, this allowed ESR a good chance with their start-up by match funding that contributed towards the arena build, quad bike and field shelter. The year after, they supported part funding towards a salary of a volunteer coordinator, ensuring volunteers were managed, safe, and happy.

The Orcome Trust show a real passion for learning and support for young people at a socioeconomic disadvantage. Their support allowed us to fund a young person with long term disability within the care system but lacking 1-1 support, access to attend fortnightly to train and complete a NCFE Project Outdoor Pursuits through Borders College on Stable Management.

ESR are very proud of our relationship with the University. They have supported us through micro grants and marketing placements for students to gain real life experience with small businesses. The first traunch of funding supported is in the launch, delivery and evaluation of our first non ridden Equine Assisted Development project. We worked in partnership with allied health professionals whilst training staff to faciliate future sessions, with 36 participants aged 8-70.

Fallago were key in supporting us through the Covid-19 pandemic and enabling us to deliver a range of online accreditations to our beneficiaries through the BHS Horse Health Challenge Awards and the ABRS Rosette Awards for our younger participants. It also enabled 40 volunteers to continue to engage in meaningful outdoor community actions through scheduled and supervised volunteering slots.

Thanks to ESR's amazing volunteer Fiona and her husband Kevin, their support for the project allowed them to showcase our work in the community to Torness Power Station, Unite the Union, who kindly donated funds to purchase a new set of Jump for Joy showjumps that still remain part of ESR to date. These have been invaluable in our regular lessons, events and clinics.

Leader allowed ESR to start and scale up their riding school. Funding supported the purchase of a quad bike and trailer helping us to manage the land effectively and increase our herd numbers, and wooden field shelter, as well as groundworks and arena surface suited for rehabilitation and disabled access. They also covered salaries to help manage projects and grow the ESR strategy. The original surface and field shelters (repurposed into windbreaks) still remain with ESR to date.

The BHA have been fundamental in supporting their tenants and local community. They supported us with match funding in the early set up stages and funded 6 tenants to join in activities for free over 4 weeks as well as an additional 8 local children and young people in our community. In addition they have supported our apprentice staff member with funding towards her BHS stage 2 complete exam. BHA continues to support us and their tenants through a range of wellbeing, educational, therapeutic and volunteering opportunities.

A first investor to support us with capital costs, that allowed us to get the new site build started, and continued to support us until completion on the 18th June. We were also lucky enough to steal a Kevin, who was Danielle's mentor, who is now a board member and always on hand to help with building a spreadsheet.

Provided the initial start up grant to create Eat Sleep Ride, supported us with our governing documents, business plan, ideas and helped make them all into reality. They have continued to support us through the Build It fund which covered core salary costs for a year enabling us to expand. We worked through the Scale It fund, supporting us through initial planning and support costs for ESR. We are grateful to continue working with Firstport, bringing many networking and funding opportunities.

Foundation Scotladn have been a distributor of a range of funds, supporting us through covid with providing educational activties, supporting young people to gain real life experience and employment skills. In conjunction with Baillie Gifford, this allowed us to plant more trees to support our environment.

Key players in providing small pockets to provide towards training for staff and volunteers through the BHS Ride Out, and provided funding towards wellbeing workshops and most recently, nature and growing workshops.

SBC have supported us through their many sectors including health and social care, employability agreements, locality and earea partnership funding. This funding has created jobs, provided training, sports and wellbeing activities and most recently supporting us to expand our chemical free garden.

SIS originally assisted with supporting costs for an ecology survey of our new site. Their most recent transition investment opportunity has allowed us to keep our site carbon negative from our membrane and arena to our solar powered off grid infrastructure.

We were so privileged to win Social Entrepeneur of the Year in 2020. The grant and loan investment helped us secure much needed staffing posts that were required to grow ESR's brand, devise processes and procedures, and HR

An intermediary body for Youth Organisations across Scotland and the Borders. They provide support, networking opportunities, guidance, funding, training and accreditations all relating to anything youth.

🌿 BCCF-Funded Community Growing Space

We're thrilled to share that Eat Sleep Ride has been awarded funding from the Berwickshire Community Climate Fund (BCCF)! This support is helping us develop a welcoming, educational community growing space that’s open to everyone – free of charge.

With this funding, we’re creating an accessible outdoor area that includes:

• A polytunnel and garden shed for growing and storing tools

• Educational boards to inspire learning about nature, food, and sustainability

• Benches and solar lighting to create a safe and relaxing environment

• A monthly gardener to help maintain the space

• Volunteer support to involve local people in caring for the garden

This space is designed to support wellbeing, environmental awareness, and community connection. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a regular face, you’ll be welcome to explore, learn, and enjoy the benefits of nature.

We’re deeply grateful to the BCCF panel for recognising our work and helping us bring this vision to life.

🤝 Eat Sleep Ride x ECHO Foundation

We’re proud to partner with the ECHO Foundation (USA) as part of their ECHO Sponsor Program – an international collaboration supporting access to equine-related experiences for individuals and communities.

Through this partnership, ECHO is helping us expand our impact by providing:

• Funding for equine-based activities and inclusive workshops

• Support for instructor certification and continuing education

• Investment in safety equipment and facilities upgrades

In return, Eat Sleep Ride delivers hands-on training in horsemanship, hosts therapeutic and recreational sessions, and maintains a safe, welcoming space for participants of all backgrounds.

This partnership aligns with both our missions: to empower people through horses, nurture wellbeing, and foster opportunity – regardless of age, ability, or background.

We are grateful to ECHO Foundation for their belief in our work and look forward to what we can achieve together.

💪 EmpowerHERd: Women’s Leadership Through Equine Learning

Funded by the Women’s Fund for Scotland

We’re proud to launch EmpowerHERd, a leadership and personal growth programme designed by women, for women. Funded by the Women’s Fund for Scotland, this 3-month initiative uses equine-facilitated learning and online workshops to build confidence, leadership, and resilience in women who’ve faced social or economic challenges.

Through hands-on sessions with horses, engaging workshops, and a final networking event, participants gain tools for self-development and are encouraged to pass on their learning to others. We're collaborating with organisations like The Ridge and the Scottish Borders Criminal Justice Service to ensure the programme reaches women who need it most.

EmpowerHERd isn’t just about learning – it’s about transformation, connection, and community.

🐴 Equine-Assisted Wellness for Youth

Funded by the Rooney Foundation

Thanks to support from the Rooney Foundation, we RAN a 3-month summer programme providing free equine-assisted sessions for children with additional support needs (ASN) and their siblings.

Working in partnership with the Dunbar ASN community collective, this project provided a safe and inclusive space for therapeutic riding, horse care, and emotional development – supported by adaptive equipment and trauma-informed practices. Our approach is backed by innovative methods like the Horse Boy Method, creating a unique environment where children can thrive.

This programme not only benefitted the children and their families but also strengthens community bonds, raises awareness, and promotes inclusivity in a sustainable, nature-powered setting.

🌱 Nature Walks for Wellbeing

Funded by the Future Routes Fund (NatureScot)

We’re excited to be delivering a brand new project funded by NatureScot’s Future Routes Fund – designed to connect young people with nature, wellbeing, and climate awareness.

This project will offer guided nature walks and outdoor learning experiences that encourage young people to explore the natural world, reflect, build confidence, and develop a deeper connection with the environment around them. Through hands-on activities and mindful time outdoors, participants will learn about biodiversity, sustainability, and personal wellbeing in a fun, inclusive, and empowering way.

Though our original application was for a larger sum, we’re thrilled to have secured £3,100 to bring this important work to life – with support from the amazing team at NatureScot.

We can’t wait to get walking!

🌟 Youth Club Winter Activities

Supported by Small Grant Funding

We’re delighted to have received support to run a special programme of festive season activities through our Eat Sleep Ride Youth Club – a space where young people from rural and low-income backgrounds come together to learn, grow, and lead.

This funding allowed us to provide free, engaging opportunities over the winter months, including creative workshops, environmental learning, and nature-based activities on our developing nature trail and sensory garden. For many of our members, the youth club is the only regular activity they can access – and this seasonal support brought joy, connection, and purpose during a time that can often feel isolating.

The project is part of our broader mission to empower young people to lead change in their communities, develop their confidence, and tackle local challenges around environment, education, and sustainability. With future plans for a STEM project and a resident scientist, this winter programme was just the beginning.

We’re incredibly proud of what the young people have achieved – and grateful for the support that made it possible.

🌿 Community Wellness Garden

Part-funded by The Mushroom Trust

We’re excited to be developing a beautiful new Community Wellness Garden here at Eat Sleep Ride – a nature-rich, inclusive space designed to support wellbeing, biodiversity, and environmental education.

With support from The Mushroom Trust, this project will transform an underused area of our rural site into a welcoming garden for all, featuring:

• Accessible pathways for people of all abilities

• A peaceful pond to attract wildlife

• Edible hedging and an allotment space for community growing

• A picnic area with inclusive seating

• Native planting to support local biodiversity

• Sensory play equipment for neurodiverse children and those with additional needs

• Creative, hands-on willow weaving and dye workshops

This space will be free and open to all, inviting individuals and families to connect with nature, learn about sustainability, and enjoy quiet moments in the outdoors. It will also serve as a resource for workshops on traditional crafts, environmental care, and wellbeing.

We’re grateful to The Mushroom Trust for believing in our vision and helping us bring this vibrant community project to life.

🐴 Youth Voice in Action: Ninas Vision for Change

A Youth-Led Project at Eat Sleep Ride

We’re incredibly proud of Nina Kritzinger, a youth leader from Eat Sleep Ride, who has taken the lead in applying for funding to support a youth-led project designed by and for young people in our community.

At just 17, Nina has transformed personal adversity into purpose. Her application champions a new phase of our youth empowerment programme, focused on formalising peer mentoring, mental health support, and equine-assisted sessions that help young people build confidence, cope with neurodiversity, and form meaningful connections.

This funding will support:

• The hiring of a dedicated youth worker

• Expanded peer mentoring and leadership roles

• Therapeutic activities rooted in equine learning and shared leadership

• Inclusive community partnerships with groups like Stepping Stones and Passion for Fusion

• More opportunities for young people to shape local decision-making

Cerys’ story is one of courage, resilience, and leadership. With this support, she hopes to create safe, healing spaces where other young people can find their voice, thrive, and lead.

🛖 Tiny House, Big Impact

Thanks to Postcode Innovation Trust

We’re thrilled to share that support from the Postcode Innovation Trust helped us bring a bold vision to life — the completion of our Tiny House and surrounding wellbeing area at Eat Sleep Ride.

This space is more than a structure. It’s a place of pause, reflection, and reconnection. Designed with sustainability in mind and shaped by youth-led ideas, the Tiny House now serves as a:

• Safe retreat for young people navigating challenges

• Hub for wellness sessions, creative activities, and mentoring

• Warm, accessible space for reflection during equine therapy

• Base for community events and quiet support

This project sits at the heart of our mission: to create an inclusive, off-grid environment where young people can grow into leaders, supported by nature, community, and horses. The funding enabled us to build sustainably, act boldly, and dream bigger — and the impact is already visible in the lives of those who use the space.

We're incredibly grateful to the Postcode Innovation Trust for backing innovation that centres community, healing, and the voices of young people.

🌳 Community Leadership & Tree Planting Day

In Partnership with Edinburgh University

In a powerful collaboration with students from Edinburgh University’s Community Leadership programme, Eat Sleep Ride hosted a hands-on tree planting and leadership day – blending environmental action with youth empowerment.

Together, we planted trees across our growing site to enhance biodiversity, improve our outdoor learning spaces, and support our sustainability goals. But this day was about more than planting — it was about connection, collaboration, and creating space for shared leadership in action.

Youth participants worked alongside university students, exchanging stories, skills, and ideas, while reflecting on leadership, resilience, and the future of our planet.

This event reflects our ongoing commitment to climate-conscious community work, and to providing practical, purposeful experiences that connect young people with nature and each other.

A huge thank you to the Edinburgh University team for helping us plan

Thanks to support from SBCAN, we were able to build a brand-new chicken coop and plant native broadleaf trees and wildflowers in our sensory garden at Eat Sleep Ride. These additions have brought new life to our space—creating a safe and enriching environment for our hens, while boosting biodiversity and giving young people a peaceful place to connect with nature. We're so grateful to SBCAN for helping us grow both our garden and our community!