Power of Polo – making a positive impact on many lives #changeyourline – Part two
By Victoria Elsbury-Legg
Click here for Part one
Power of Polo’s first partner charity was South Central Youth based in Streatham who selected six young men aged 13 – 23 years old to join two previously selected by the charity in a four day residential course held in August at Fifield Polo Club. Many different experiences were on offer to those taking part, who had never previously ridden or been involved with horses and it was great to see them competing in arena chukkas on the final day of the course.
During the four day residential course the young men taking part stayed at the Combermere Barracks and headed to Fifield Polo Club each day where there was the opportunity to learn about everything from mucking out and feeding, to a ride off and backhand, with Mark Emerson on hand to talk about the role of vets and Petra Sones demonstrating the benefits of Faradic Impulse Therapy for maintaining ponies’ fitness and recovery from injury, followed by a reflections session with leading sports psychologist Miranda Banks. A trip to Guards Polo Club to see around the club and watch a couple of games rounded off the week.
Following the residential course later in the year a one day programme in partnership with the Children’s HIV Association (CHIVA) took place again at Fifield Polo Club sponsored by ViiV Healthcare.
Power of Polo are now delighted to announce that Lycetts will be sponsoring a one day programme to bring the eight young men back to Fifield on 31st October for another day at the Polo Club. Piers Plunket of Lycetts explained what brought them together, ‘Power of Polo touches on all the elements that matter to us at Lycetts; injured service personnel, disadvantaged and underprivileged youth and all the rural pursuits. Supporting your combining of the facets within polo was an easy decision and we are thrilled with the connection and wish you every success.’
It certainly looks like the course proved a winner for all involved as Michael Kaddu (one of the young men chosen to take part) commented ‘I’m over the moon to come back – if I never get to drive a Ferrari, I’ve been on a polo horse’
Chairman of the charity and Guards Board Member Vivek Rawal believes that through the Power of Polo the sport can really make a difference in many lives, ‘whilst we cannot significantly change a person’s current circumstance we believe that these opportunities may positively influence the way they view themselves and impact upon their future, thus improving and ‘changing their line’*.
For further information visit: www.powerofpolo.org.uk
Follow on social media: Twitter @powerofpolo and facebook #changeyourline
*The strap line ‘change your line’ refers to how this sport can help participants to change the direction of their life and is taken from the most important rule of the game – the line of the ball.
Power of Polo would like to thank all those who have helped to make their work possible including: Our partners at South Central Youth (SCY) and the Children’s HIV Association (CHIVA). Chairman Vivek Rawal and the Board, Julia Luke at Fifield Polo Club, Combermere Barracks, Sarah at Millwheel, Elizabeth Kerr freelance producer and her filming team, Polocam, Mark Emerson, Petra Sones, Miranda Banks, Josh Clover, Federico Boudou and Jane at The Printing Boutique(@PoloPrinting) and the team at Guards Polo Club.