Recently we had a very special group of visitors who wanted to find out about our work and meet our ponies:

STAIRWAYS GROUP

Stairways is a club for adults with learning difficulties, over 18 years of age. Members meet every Friday morning in the Watermark in Ivybridge. Led by a wonderfully committed team of volunteers, they help members with literacy, numeracy and social skills through a variety of projects intended to catch the imagination and stimulate reading, writing and discussion.

Members have enjoyed drama, cookery, art, board games, yoga, tennis and curling lessons – and many other activities. They love going on trips and have walked with alpacas, flown hawks on the moor, visited the Egyptian House in Dobwalls and taken a dog swimming in a canine-hydrotherapy pool -so coming to visit and spend time with the Dartmoor ponies at DPHT was another big outing!

The group makes no charge for membership and provides for the needs of each of its members including providing refreshments.

Sadly, however, Stairways is struggling to recruit volunteer leaders to carry on with group, as those involved now have been running it for a very long time and need to retire or at least reduce their commitment.

Our DPHT volunteers were really touched by the great ethos and friendliness of the Stairways Group – really lovely people. If you can help them, please do contact Group Leader Ann Laity, at alaity9@gmail.com