The Sanders Watney Trust

Registered Charity No 327023

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:

• Purchasing a carriage or harness

• Funding training and driving tuition scholarships

• Funding driving holidays

• Hiring arenas for competition or tuition

• Paying for adapting reins, carriage wheelchair fixings and hardware

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:

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 Future of the Trust

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 julie.allen7@tesco.net

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

Disabled Driving Groups
Click here to see a list of Disabled Driving Groups Affiliated to the BDS