On Tuesday 3rd November we were very excited to bring together two new partners for a special first at Beaufort Polo Club, welcoming ten young people from The King’s Trust Cardiff’s Explore programme for a day of horses, polo and new experiences.
The King’s Trust Explore programme supports young people aged 16–25 who are not in education, employment or training, helping them build confidence, develop new skills and believe in their potential. This mission fits brilliantly with our own and we were thrilled to have the chance to show them what we do at Power of Polo.
For many of the group, it was their first experience with horses. With expert tuition from the fantastic coaching team at Beaufort, they learned how to lead and groom the wonderful school ponies, before experiencing the thrill of riding. Just getting into the saddle was a huge achievement for some, let alone swinging a polo stick and scoring goals, and the sense of confidence and empowerment was evident throughout the day.
After a delicious lunch in the clubhouse provided by Poppy and Boo catering, a particular highlight was the chance to watch an exhibition chukka and see how the game looks when played by the pros! The Beaufort coaches were joined in the arena by former England Captain Mark Tomlinson and guests, and we are so grateful to them for putting on such a great show.
As ever on a Power of Polo programme, our day ended with an instructional chukka and, inspired by what they had seen, there were goals scored and smiles all round!
"I love animals and it was amazing to spend the day with horses. I can't believe I rode a horse, played polo and scored goals. It's given me more confidence in myself and I enjoyed it so much." Damien, King’s Trust Explore Participant.
“Thank you to Power of Polo for trusting us today. It was a great privilege to host their first day with the King’s Trust; may it be the first of many!” Mark Tomlinson, Beaufort Polo Club
"What really excites us about working with Power of Polo is the opportunity to give our young people an experience they may never have imagined themselves taking part in. Explore is about building confidence, reducing anxiety, developing new skills and encouraging young people to believe in their own potential and we feel this partnership fits perfectly with those aims. Today was fantastic and I am sure it will be the absolute highlight of the six-week programme for many of these young people!"
David Evans, Youth Development Lead for the King’s Trust, Cardiff (Left, with Juan Ortelli of Beaufort Polo Club)
This day was made possible thanks to the continued support of Liberata, whose support over the last few years has been invaluable to Power of Polo. Andy Norris, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Liberata, said: "We are proud of our long-term partnership with Power of Polo and the part we have played in supporting the amazing work they do. The partnership with The King's Trust is a shining example of this work and aligns perfectly with our social value programme, focusing on young people who are facing and overcoming challenges to take that first step towards a positive future."
We would like to congratulate these young people for stepping outside their comfort zones and discovering what they can achieve, and we hope they go forward with more confidence in themselves. We look forward to hearing how they get on during the remainder of their time with The King’s Trust.
Our thanks goes to The King's Trust Cardiff, Beaufort Polo Club and the Beaufort Polo School, Mark Tomlinson, Liberata, and Poppy & Boo – and, most importantly, the ten participants who embraced the day so enthusiastically.
Lunch in the Beaufort Clubhouse! Thank you to Poppy and Boo Catering for supporting us.