The horses helping children recover from the strain of lockdown

Watch a video report by ITV News Anglia's Rebecca Haworth

A charity in Milton Keynes which teaches disadvantaged children to ride horses is expecting a huge rise in demand for their services once lockdown ends.

Ride High says children's mental health has suffered considerably during the coronavirus crisis and they are in desperate need of the charity's support.

The riding school has just started to welcome back some of their children as lockdown restrictions are slowly lifted.

Jade grooming her favourite horse, Kofi, at the Ride High stables in Milton Keynes. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Jade is 14 years old and has been waiting for this moment for months to meet up with her favourite horse Kofi.

She last saw in back in February and she's really missed him.

Jade started coming to Ride High in Milton Keynes towards the end of last year. It's helped her to feel more confident, strong and independent.

But she has struggled since the charity was forced to close in March due to the lockdown. 

She said: "It's been horrible, I've been at my lowest.

"This place is a like a second home to me, it's a place where I can come where I know I'm cared for, where I'm thought about, and honestly it's just an amazing place to be.

"It's an amazing place and it's an absolute honour to be a part of the Ride High family."

Ride High says children's mental health has suffered considerably during the coronavirus crisis. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Ride High is a charity which has been helping disadvantaged children to ride horses in Milton Keynes for the past 11 years. 

During lockdown, they have been sending out activity packs in the post to help lift the children's spirits. 

Like all charities, they've lost income during this period, but have managed to start up some of their services again. 

What is really concerning the Chief Executive Olivia Sugdon is the detrimental impact the pandemic seems to be having on children's mental health. 

Ride High is expecting a huge rise in demand for their services once lockdown ends. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Olivia Sugdon says they get new referrals every time there is a new government announcement about the way ahead.

She said: "Our site's not the limiting factor, it's really resources, the more money that we can collate allows us just to help more children.

"The need is very large in Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas, and we have many many children on our waiting list already, that we just don't have the funding to support."

Due to social distancing measures, Jade can't ride Kofi yet, but she knows she will be able to soon, and that day will be well worth the wait.

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