STUDENTS attending Greatwood's certificate presentation day were part of a double celebration as the Marlborough-based charity marked its 10th year delivering education for children and young adults with additional educational needs.

Pupils from 12 schools attended the ceremony on July 6 after successfully completing courses designed to develop life skills, maturity and employability.

"It’s wonderful to be celebrating 10 years of the educational programmes," said co-founder, Helen Yeadon. "We believe we have created a model at Greatwood that can be emulated almost anywhere where there are horses in need of a home and children with special educational needs.

"Greatwood has provided a second career for many hundreds of horses over the years and now the majority of thoroughbreds that come to us come not because they are in need, but because their owners want them to continue having a purposeful life."

One of the students who picked up his certificate for the new Initial Bit course was 14-year-old Shaun Stacey from St John's who has been working with Greatwood for eight years.

Alongside his mother, Mr Stacey told the gathered crowd how he hopes to take a course at the Northern Racing College before chasing his dream to become a jockey.

Greatwood has become an important development tool for young people across the county and has received support from a number of organisations including Marlborough Area Board.

Andrew Jack, Wiltshire Council’s community engagement manager for Marlborough said: "Marlborough Area Board has been very happy to support the good work that the Greatwood Charity does for both the local area and further afield. The area board has been able to help provide grant funding towards specialist educational material for the training courses Greatwood runs for people with additional educational needs."

Since 2006, approximately 3,000 students have benefitted from the unique resources at Greatwood and have used it as a stepping stone towards work or further training.

Jackie Smith, executive headteacher at Uplands Educational Trust and Uplands School in Swindon, who was recently awarded with the MBE for her work with children with disabilities, is among those with first-hand knowledge of Greatwood’s contribution to the education of children.

She said: “We have worked with Greatwood for a number of years and its facilities and the opportunities it provides are fabulous. The rural atmosphere and the chance to engage with animals allows students who have struggled in mainstream education the chance to re-engage with education and people socially which breaks down barriers and changes lives. What they are doing is invaluable.”