British Driving Society - Sanders Watney Trust

The British Driving Society’s charity to assist and enable people with disabilities in the driving of horses, ponies and donkeys

The Sanders Watney Trust was created in 1986 as Registered Charity No. 327023 and named in honour of former British Driving Society President, Mr. Sanders Watney.

The Trust’s original objective was to assist carriage drivers with disabilities purchase specially designed carriages to enable those confined to wheelchairs to drive. Nowadays, grants and loans are made to organisations and individuals by the Trust for many purposes, including:

Of the 536 Riding for Disabled Association (RDA) groups in the UK, over 100 are also driving groups. Since its formation, the Sanders Watney Trust has made grants to over 70 of these, totalling nearly £135,000:

Vehicles and equipment	£ 89,333
Harness	17,273
Training	15,396
Driving holidays	12,715
	£134,717

Since 1995, loans totalling more than £23,000 have been made to 46 RDA groups. Of this money, 82% has so far been repaid and loaned again.

The driving movement for people with disabilities has come a long way since HRH Prince Philip suggested in 1974 that carriage driving might be a suitable activity for people with disabilities.

A growing number of drivers are keen to compete; some of whom now have the ability to do so at the International sport levels. This is tremendous encouragement to those who are just starting out. The courage and skill of those at the top has proven a real catalyst towards continued progress. Standards have risen, yet the element of fun at grass roots remains.

For more information about The Sanders Watney Trust, please contact the Honourable Secretary:

Julie Allen
The Mill,
Croft Hill Road,
Huncote,
Leicester LE9 3GR
Tel: 01162 751243
Email team.smiffy@btinternet.com

Information Leaflet

Donation Form

The Sanders Watney Trust is running an annual scholarship to provide funding of £300 towards the training and tests for one disabled driver and one RDA whip. They are open to any member of an RDA affiliated disabled carriage driving group who is also a member of the BDS. It would be beneficial if applications included some background information about you, your level of experience and what you hope to achieve from the scholarship. Applications from all levels and abilities will be welcomed by our Secretary, Julie Allen, and should be sent to the following address: The Mill, Croft Hill Road, Huncote, Leicester, LE9 3GR. The closing date for applications is 31 March 2012.

If you are organising a driving event, please consider donating some of your proceeds to the Sanders Watney Trust.