Can we go for a double on the next referendum?

How saying no will help a stables to say yes
Nov 18 2004
By Daniel Thomson, The Journal

They say you should never look a gift horse in the mouth. But North stables Stepney Bank are unlikely to do that.
They received a much-needed cash donation of £250 yesterday from Neil Herron and Colin Moran of the North East No Campaign - who won the money betting on the result of the regional assembly.

The No campaigners were the only two men in the country to place a bet on the outcome of the North East Referendum and decided to share their good fortune with two North charities close to their hearts.

Stepney Bank Stables in Byker, Newcastle, is the only inner city community horse project in the country and provides people who have personal, social and educational needs with the opportunity to look after horses and ponies.

Stable manager Susan Tron said: "Despite being a strange concept, Stepney Bank has proven to be a highly effective, long-term method of engaging disaffected and hard to reach groups.
"Horses provide enormous scope for moral development and confidence building and caring for horses provides purpose, structure and routine where it may not have previously existed. It is a unique atmosphere where teenagers work alongside adults with learning difficulties to form a team with a common interest."

Mr Herron last night said they had chosen Stepney Bank as one of two charities they will be donating money to because it was an exceptional and unique project.
He said: "Stepney Bank Stables and manager Susan Tron are an inspiration. They have a fantastic operation in what is now an improving inner city area and demonstrate a `can do' attitude second to none.
"We always knew our horse would come in and our only disappointment was that Ladbrokes restricted our bet to £2,000 because from the outset the referendum result was a certainty.
"We always said we would share our good fortune with other deserving causes.

Today we are handing over cash to Stepney Bank, and our other nominated charity is the Grace House Appeal in Sunderland. We will also be giving money to Kirsty Anderson, a young woman who needs to raise £1,500 to travel to Africa to work educating children."

Susan said: "The money from the North East No Campaigners will be used to support out Youth Project, which is an extremely important element of our work."