### Thursday 7th May 2026 – Oulton Hall

Thursday evening marked a truly special moment in the journey of Carriage Driving Community CIC as we attended the HSBC UK and FSB Small Business Growth Awards at Oulton Hall.

Out of nearly 3,000 applicants nationally, Carriage Driving Community CIC was incredibly proud to be recognised amongst the Top 30 businesses and organisations. For a small community-led carriage driving club built around inclusion, wellbeing and accessibility, this recognition meant more than words can fully describe.

What made the evening even more meaningful was what the recognition represented.

Behind the photographs, smart outfits and celebrations is a huge amount of hard work, determination and belief. Our club was built to create opportunities for people who often feel excluded from traditional sport, physical activity and community spaces. Through carriage driving, we have worked to create an environment where disabled and non-disabled people can participate together with dignity, confidence and genuine support.

The evening was not simply about awards. It was about recognising community impact, inclusion and the power of believing in something bigger than yourself.

We were honoured to spend the evening amongst so many inspiring businesses and organisations, all working hard to make a positive difference within their communities. The support and kindness shown throughout the event was overwhelming, with many people taking time to speak to us about the work we are doing with accessible carriage driving, social prescribing and wellbeing.

Of course, one of the stars of the evening was Elvis, our much-loved assistance dog and unofficial “Director of Public Relations”. Dressed for the occasion in his bow tie and gold chain, Elvis attracted attention everywhere he went and quickly became a talking point throughout the venue. From posing for photographs to charming guests and staff alike, he represented the warmth and welcoming spirit that sits at the heart of our community.

The staff at Oulton Hall also deserve special recognition for the exceptional support and accessibility they provided throughout the evening. Their attentiveness, kindness and professionalism helped make the experience comfortable, inclusive and enjoyable from beginning to end.

This recognition belongs to every single person who has supported Carriage Driving Community CIC along the way — our volunteers, drivers, carriage grooms, supporters, funders, families, friends and wider community. It also belongs to our horses and ponies, whose calm and generous nature makes so much of this work possible.

While the evening celebrated how far we have come, it also reinforced our determination to continue growing. We remain committed to creating accessible opportunities through carriage driving, expanding our wellbeing programmes and developing further community partnerships for the future.

From the yard to a national awards evening, this moment reminded us that community, inclusion and determination truly matter.

And this is only the beginning.

Elvis is much more than a familiar face around Carriage Driving Community CIC — he is a valued assistance dog, wellbeing ambassador and a huge part of the heart behind our community.

A Lancashire Heeler with a very big personality, Elvis supports Gemma day-to-day with balance, alerts and practical tasks, helping her to remain safe, independent and able to continue leading the organisation despite ongoing health challenges.

However, Elvis’s role reaches far beyond assistance work alone.

At the yard, training sessions, competitions and community events, Elvis has become known for his enthusiasm, confidence and ability to make people smile almost instantly. Whether he is supervising lessons, inspecting the yard, travelling in the carriage, attending meetings or proudly wearing his famous bow tie at formal events, Elvis approaches every situation as though he is personally responsible for running the organisation.

Many visitors meet Elvis before they meet anyone else. He is often the first to welcome people through the gate, quickly appointing himself head of security, public relations and hospitality all at once. His larger-than-life personality has helped create the much-loved “Elvis Approved” side of the organisation, bringing humour, warmth and accessibility to everything from competitions to social media posts.

Elvis also plays an important role in helping raise awareness around hidden disabilities and assistance dogs. His presence often opens conversations about accessibility, inclusion and the realities of living with long-term health conditions — helping people better understand challenges that may not always be visible.

Most recently, Elvis attended the HSBC UK and FSB Small Business Growth Awards at Oulton Hall, where he quickly became one of the most talked-about guests of the evening. Dressed in his signature bow tie and gold chain, he spent the night charming guests, posing for photographs and ensuring absolutely nobody forgot his name.

For many people, Elvis may arrive as “the dog in the bow tie” — but he represents something far bigger:

community, companionship, determination and the reminder that sometimes the smallest team members leave the biggest impression.