Congratulations to volunteer, Katy Cowan - nominated for the Flintshire Local Voluntary Council Young Volunteer of the Year Award!

Huge congratulations to volunteer, Katy Cowan, for being nominated for the Flintshire Local Voluntary Council Young Volunteer of the Year Award (FLVC)!

Since joining us in October 2023, Katy has gone from volunteering one morning a week to becoming a full-time groom at Clwyd Special Riding Centre. Her dedication, compassion, and incredible growth inspire us all. Katy’s journey shows just how life-changing volunteering can be - we are so proud of her!

This is her volunteering journey…

Katy began her volunteering journey with Clwyd Special Riding Centre in 2023 as a very shy 21-year-old. At the time, she was living with severe social anxiety and found it extremely difficult to leave the house. Reaching out to our charity took immense courage, and due to her anxiety, all communication had to be done via email, as speaking on the phone was too overwhelming for her.

Understanding her situation, we invited Katy to begin volunteering just one morning a week during our Hippotherapy sessions (physiotherapy on horseback), as this is our quietest day. We hoped the gentle environment would support her in overcoming her anxieties. Despite her initial concerns, Katy quickly settled into her role, immediately showing kindness, patience, and compassion toward the children she supported.

Since then, Katy has gone from strength to strength. Over the course of several months, her confidence blossomed. She began volunteering up to three days a week, assisting in a variety of equine therapy sessions, including on much busier days. Each new challenge she faced, she tackled with courage and determination.

Around six months ago, Katy took another big step … when she began helping with the care of the horses. She approached this new responsibility with the same dedication she had shown in her earlier roles. Her reliability and growth did not go unnoticed - she was soon invited to join our equine bank staff team to cover sick leave.

Most recently, Katy achieved something she once thought impossible: she was offered a full-time position as a groom at Clwyd Special Riding Centre. This is a remarkable milestone for someone who, not long ago, believed she would never be able to enter the workforce.

Katy’s personal journey gives her a deep empathy for others facing similar challenges, and her presence has become an invaluable asset to our team. Her transformation through volunteering is a powerful testament to the life-changing impact of inclusive opportunities, support, and purpose.

She has been named our in-house Volunteer of the Year two years running, and this latest recognition is testament to her personal journey and how volunteering at the Centre is truly Inclusive - Connecting and Life-Changing.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOW VOLUNTEERING CAN HELP YOU contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Sara Henney: volunteering@clwydspecialridingcentre.co.uk

01352 770446 (Option 4)