Loneliness charity takes service users & volunteers to meet top stallions for National Racehorse Week

A Southampton charity working to eradicate loneliness in the city helped some of its service users and volunteers visit a stud farm last week as part of National Racehorse Week (NRW).

Communicare took beneficiaries who find it hard to get out on their own for an outing to Whitsbury Manor Stud near Fordingbridge in Hampshire, supported by Great British Racing and Racing Together.

Joe Callan. Head of Bloodstock & Sales, Whitsbury Manor Stud, says: “It was great to host Communicare and their guests at Whitsbury Manor Stud to celebrate National Racehorse Week.”

Whitsbury Manor Stud is home to top-class stallions, providing breeders across Europe with a quality roster of proven performers including Showcasing, Havana Grey and the well-known Sergei Prokofiev.

Joe adds: “NRW is all about giving the public a chance to come behind-the-scenes of what we do and meet our wonderful horses and seeing the smiles on the faces of visitors interacting with the foals, yearlings, stallions and broodmares was really rewarding for everyone on the team.”

Communicare, which is a friendly neighbourhood charity, provides services that enrich the lives of isolated people in and around Southampton.

Annie Clewlow, Manager at the charity, said: “Trips like this are vital, as they provide so many benefits to someone’s physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. They help combat isolation, reduce feelings of loneliness, and provide social interaction, which is vital for maintaining healthy social connections. 

“Outings like this also promote physical activity, stimulate the mind, and offer a change of scenery, improving one’s mood and cognitive function. We met the amazing Showcasing, who is probably the top stallion in the world, as well as the wonderful Havana Grey and the brilliant Sergei Prokofiev.

“We’re so grateful to Great British Racing for suggesting this trip to us and for their support too, as well as Lucy Gurney from Racing Together, a partnership of racing bodies working together to help others. We’re also indebted to the team at Whitsbury Manor Stud for giving us such a lovely day out with the horses. It was wonderful.”

Communicare’s services are staffed by its devoted volunteers, known as Communiteers, who give their time freely.

One of the charity’s Trustees, Lenka Fremerova explains: “The day was fabulous. It was so enjoyable, educational and entertaining for our service users and volunteers, and all of us!

“The weather, knowledgeable stud farm team and the relaxing pub lunch afterwards, while watching the donkeys go by made our day a great success! We all enjoyed the benefits of nature, learning a great deal about stunning horses, our lovely meal, good chat and, most of all, the spirit of being together.”

Communicare is currently supporting around 750 individuals/families through tasks including, befriending, transport for appointments and assistance with shopping and always needs more donations and volunteers to help with its work.

The services it provides are free to users, although beneficiaries are invited to make a donation if they are able to, and Communiteers are offered expenses.

Annie adds: “We’re here to help people live their best lives, rather than to just exist. There has been lots of research showing how loneliness impacts on both someone’s physical and mental well-being.”

“It’s known as a ‘silent killer.’ So, trips out and partnerships like this, with organisations Whitsbury Manor Stud, are so important. It was a privilege to have linked up with them to have our once in a lifetime behind-the-scenes visit. It’s something our service users, volunteers and team will be talking about for many years to come.”

Racing Together is working beyond National Racehorse Week to explore racing’s potential to tackle loneliness in the communities where it operates. This work forms part of the BHA’s emerging Social Impact Strategy and Communicare has been offered the opportunity to be involved in this pilot programme and build upon this initial visit.

To find out more about Communicare visit www.communicareinsouthampton.org.uk.