What a year!

Dear All

2017 was a brilliant year for The British Horse Society. And it’s all because of you.

Each and every one of us played our part in the success we experienced. We are all inextricably connected to one another in all the things we do for the Society.

Every single one of us contributed to getting the Society over the top to 100,000 members. Whether you’re in the Finance Team or the Education Team, the Welfare Team or the Access Team, HR, IT, BRC, Marketing, the CEO’s office, the Board of Trustees, Volunteers, Instructors and Fellows, Reception, Post Room, Facilities, Development Team, Safety Team, Approvals Team…it takes all of us together to serve The British Horse Society. And thanks to our collective efforts, horses both here and abroad are happier and healthier than ever before.

So let’s take a moment to reflect on just a few of our considerable accomplishments in the 12 months of 2017:

Over 156 million people heard and read about the BHS in the media this year

A robust congratulations to the BHS on its 70th year by Dame Caroline Spelman in Parliament…as well as a mention by The Queen in series two of The Crown!

Over 156 million people heard and read about the BHS in the media this year

We’re growing and recruiting…now 140 people strong fuel the work of the BHS

We launched BHS Education and Approvals in China at the British Embassy in Beijing with British Ambassador Dame Barbara Woodward and our Vice Patron Princess Anne

Our total income stands at £11 million. Our reserves total £9 million with free reserves in excess of £3 million. We are a financially strong charity by every standard

700 horses were treated at BHS Healthcare Clinics – Forget-Me-Not seeds are lovingly sent to all horse owners helped by our Friends at the End programme

We launched Changing Lives through Horses aimed at young people excluded (and at risk of exclusion) from school – a remarkable 71% of those young people who completed the Changing Lives have returned to school

We presented our REACT Now to Beat Colic at the prestigious International Equine Colic Research Symposium in Kentucky

A bold, new approach to BHS Education – BHS Complete Horsemanship was launched in July with a whopping 33% increase in enquiries about our qualifications

500 additional routes were identified toward protecting our bridleways by 2026 – the tremendous growth to 286 access volunteers  – Ride Out UK on 5 National Trust properties, 2 of which were in Scotland.

Strong, steady improvement in our IT provision and all operating processes

Hosted by Princess Anne, we held a VIP fundraising dinner at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the start of our Platinum Year

Profile of BHS Safety reaches an all-time high with the introduction of Ride Safe and dozens of new partnerships with the police as well as cycling and driving associations. The Dead Slow campaign won the 2016 Driver Education Campaign of the Year from the Driving Instructors Association

Our national and regional managers drive BHS strategy through their 83 committees and nearly 1000 volunteers

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Tomorrow (1st January) we move into our Platinum Year with boundless energy to serve horses wherever they may be.

Please share this good news with all parts of the great BHS Family!

Here’s to a wonderful 2018!

 

Lynn