A PORTHMADOG ‘horse-whispering’ charity is launching a bold initiative to raise funds to establish the first-ever community-owned equestrian centre in Wales and perhaps the world.

WITH (Welsh Institute of Therapeautic Horsemanship), based near Morfa Bychan, provides projects that give disadvantaged young people access to horses in order to improve their communications skills and wellbeing.

The charity has already helped several young people from the Dwyfor and Meirionnydd area and has featured on Children in Need after being awarded a grant of £97,500 over three years.

Now the charity is appealing for support to help raise £500,000 which will enable the society to purchase larger premises, expand their current pioneering work which uses horses to improve young people’s mental health and wellbeing, and provide equestrian, educational and recreational facilities for the whole community.

WITH is aiming to fund this unique venture through a community share offer.

Individuals and organisations from across the world can purchase between £25 and £50,000 of ‘withdrawable shares’ and become members of WITH.

Each shareholder, regardless of the amount they invest, will have equal voting rights in the community benefit society and the opportunity to be directly involved in the management of the equestrian centre as one of the board of directors which will be elected from the shareholders.

Further details of WITH and the community share offer are available on www.with.wales and through www.tilt.com

See this week’s north editions of the Cambrian News for the full story