WE'VE WON A STAR AWARD!
Hurrah! We've just heard that we've won a Star Award in the Care and Compassion category of the South Tees Heathwatch Recognition Awards 2021! So proud of everyone at Team Unicorn for going the extra mile to enhance the health and social care experience of care users, relatives and staff during a very difficult time. Listen to Neil Green's Radio Tees interview this morning with Chair of Trustees Jackie Rubin. It's 2hrs 50mins in. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p09bnhyq
Here's some of what Jackie said in her Radio Tees interview about the Award.
1) What did you think about your win?
It’s incredible. It's a recognition of all the amazing work our manager and her staff have done. Also I must include all our volunteers and our trustees who also work tirelessly alongside our staff team. They provide equine therapy to participants with a wide range of disabilities and every one of them always show care compassion and dedication in their roles.
We were nominated for this award by Jane Barry and her team who we began working with at the beginning of last year to see how we could integrate Dementia clients into our services. We had just started organising these sessions when lockdown hit us but we intend to resume these as soon as we safely can.
Being recognised by Healthwatch South Tees will hopefully be the start of a really useful working relationship between us. Now Healthwatch recognise the care we provide we can work with them to help signpost people who would benefit from our care.
2) What kind of things have you done differently during the pandemic?
The impact on us has been considerable.
Horses cannot look after themselves so we managed with a core team of very dedicated staff during the two lock downs, however as soon as it was safe to do so we gradually phased in the return of our learners, our supported volunteers and participants.
This had to be done alongside preparing the premises to be Covid secure, preparing our horses to cope with PPE and also working to ensure the fitness of the horses in order for them to deliver lessons to our participants.
Many of our participants are very vulnerable so there was considerable organisation required for them to return safely.
We have accessed funding through both National and Local grant schemes, Our thanks must go to Middlesbrough Council, RDA national, the Sports Lottery, Covid Community National lottery, the BHs, Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation, Age Friendly Middlesbrough, Sir Peter O Sullevan Trust and many others who have helped us through this past year.
We have fundraised with sponsored events.
Our supporters have shown incredible generosity, imagination and dedication in raising funds for us.
Our next fundraiser is in fact on Friday, April 9th National Unicorn Day where there are a host of fundraising activities to be found on Face book and search National Unicorn Day Online Show.
This is usually a big event on our calendar with horse and pony rides, stalls, games and activities at the Centre however because of Covid this year it is just a little bit different.
3. How important is your role to Covid recovery?
Incredibly important.
Not being able to attend the Centre has a huge impact on the physical and emotional well being of our supported volunteers and participants and we are desperate to be able to facilitate their safe return and resume our activities.
4. Looking to the future?
Next week should see the return of our supported volunteers, a programme we run which provides volunteers who require a bit of extra support to learn about horses, their care and their riding, and they can even work towards an Asdan qualification.
We may have some vacancies in this programme and anyone interested should contact our Volunteer Co-ordinator on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Blackberry, our mechanical horse will resume lessons on the 14th April. This can provide a good transition back into riding for some of our participants.
Dressage events are starting in April too
We will be phasing in the return of lessons early in May. Participants will be contacted by Centre staff.
We are also starting a programme to train family members or carers to assist in the lessons as leaders and side walkers. We have received funding to set up this training from Middlesbrough Council.
We hope to gradually get back to normal activity by the summertime.
Thanks to everyone for their very generous support for us over the past year but would ask for that support to continue as we gradually ease back into our normal way of working.
Anyone interested in coming along for a lesson or to volunteer at the Centre should contact our Centre Manager Claire Pitt at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Anyone interested in a job joining our equine team should also contact the same address
Tel 01642 576222
www.rdaunicorncentre.co.uk
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