Governance Review: Roadshow Questions and Answers

During the recent Governance Review Roadshow events, we kept record of a ‘parking lot’ of questions and comments made that we were not able to discuss at length. They were noted and we committed to reply with answers following the events, and in this way could be shared for visibility across RDA. A set of these Questions and Answers has now been compiled and can be found here [add link to ‘here’]. Some of the highlights in this set are an update on plans for the new ‘My RDA’ website, news about support for Group trustee understanding of charity governance, and information on the role of Regional Chairs.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the roadshow events and sent formal written feedback to the consultation report. This formal consultation closed in November, and results will be shared with the RDA network once it has been analysed.

Governance Review & Roadshow

An opportunity to give your views about RDA’s future   

Firstly, thank you to everyone who has participated to date in the initial Listening Exercise as part of the RDA Governance Review.

Bookings are now open for the Governance Review Roadshows, which are the next part of the exercise – Our Governance: How We Work Together Tickets | Eventbrite. We are now able to give you further information about how the Roadshows will be run and what will be discussed.

The Roadshow Format

The Roadshows have capacity for 100 attendees at each event. They will be introduced by Barbara Manson, Trustee and Governance Review Steering Committee Chair.

Alongside her will be Steph Harland from CCE (Centre for Charity Effectiveness, City of London University), other RDA National Charity Trustees, and Michael Bishop our CEO. The events will last for two hours. Please do encourage everyone to book in and be part of the conversation – this is their chance to influence how we work together as a National Charity in the future and we are keen to hear everyone’s views.

There are five physical meetings across the UK – one in Northern Ireland, one in Wales, one in Scotland and two in England, and we have tried to balance the locations geographically as best we can. However, we appreciate that it may not be convenient to attend the events in person so we have planned two virtual events during October which can be joined from anywhere in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. We very much hope that everyone across the RDA community can access either a physical or virtual meeting should they so choose.

Framing the Discussion – The Consultation Document

The Consultation Document sets out in some detail the topics for discussion at the Roadshows so that everyone has a chance to reflect and discuss these topics with fellow RDA volunteers in advance. The document is available on this link.

There is, as you would expect, much we could discuss and we have had to prioritise based on the collective feedback. There were also some very useful strategic and operational issues raised which fall outside of this governance review, and our CEO, Michael, will look to address these in his future plans.

Gathering feedback

The topics raised in the consultation document are topics for discussion. CCE will gather the feedback from the Roadshows, together with all feedback given between 11th October to 11th November 2024 through the Consultation Feedback form, to gather everyone’s input and prepare a report for the RDA UK Board.  

Everyone in RDA will be able to give Consultation Document feedback between the above dates, whether they have attended a roadshow or not.

In the meantime, if you have any queries please contact our email address governance@rda.org.uk

Thank you very much for all your support in this process and we hope this lays the foundation for a more consultative and collaborative approach to make sure our charity is in the best possible shape to support our member groups.

Page Last Updated: December 11, 2024

RDA UK Fortnightly Newsletter

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Page Last Updated: December 13, 2024

Emma’s Gold Award

Emma receives her Gold Horse care certificate. She is wearing a Christmas Jumper.

Emma receives her Gold Horse care award at Barrow Farm RDA.

Congratulations to RDA participant Emma, from Barrow Farm Riding for the Disabled, on being the first their participant to receive a Gold Award in Horse care.

 

Emma has cerebral palsy and has been riding at Barrow Farm since she was 15 years old.  Now 10 years later, she has competed successfully both regionally and nationally.    

During the last couple of years some physical difficulties have made riding more difficult for her and she has started carriage driving, which she now loves. Emma has been the Rider Representative on the Trustees since 2012.  She has spoken at fundraising talks for local groups, e.g. Round Tables and has helped at training sessions for volunteers. During the pandemic she was successful in gaining both her Bronze (October 2020) and her Silver (July 2021) Horse Care Awards.  She has been working towards her Gold Award since July 2021.  

The Gold Award consists of 7 modules: 

  • Describing a horse 
  • Grooming 
  • Feeding 
  • Daily care of a horse 
  • The healthy horse 
  • Tack  
  • Farrier  

Emma was helped with her learning by all the coaches at Barrow Farm RDA and would like to thank them for their teaching, their enthusiasm and their support.  They all wrote reports on her knowledge and these were submitted in a portfolio with photos and videos. Emma immersed herself in her learning, taking time to talk to and observe farriers, physiotherapists and saddlers at Barrow Farm and at Ingatestone Saddlers. Her dedication to achieving this award has been amazing and it is very much deserved. 

The award was given to her at Barrow Farm by Barbora Hallam-Skalova, Interim Director of Business Improvement from RDA National during the Barrow Farm Christmas Volunteers’ lunch 2023.  She also received a congratulatory video from Sophie Christiansen, Gold Medal Dressage rider and Emma is now a member of Sophie’s Gold Club.  

Page Last Updated: January 11, 2024

A Visit to Lambourn RDA

On 7th November, our new Philanthropy Manager, Philippa Fairhall, visited Lambourn RDA to meet the team and their Tuesday participants.  It was a busy and enjoyable visit on a beautifully crisp, autumnal morning, with Philippa able to see a group of 7 children from a local special school take part in stable-based activities and riding, as well as two individual riders – a pre-schooler and a young adult – have sessions with their coaches, tailored exactly to their needs.  It was wonderful to chat with teaching assistants, parents and participants and see how much the sessions meant to everyone.  After the morning participants had left, the team also took time to celebrate volunteer Aaron’s 23rd birthday together.  Aaron is a key member of the team, having been a rider with RDA Lambourn since he was 5 years old and the winner of his class at this year’s National Championship’s Countryside Challenge. Aaron has now finished his college course (which included his passion, equine care) and volunteers with the group in various roles up to 6 days a week.  Aaron’s quiet confidence around the horses and his friendship with his fellow volunteers was a clear example of, “It’s what you can do that counts”.  

A huge thank you to Frances Lochrane and whole team who hosted Philippa; it was a great learning experience for Philippa who, new into her role, was very keen to see our work in action before meeting major donors around the country and getting them fired up about our work.

Page Last Updated: November 30, 2023

A Day with the Royal Forest of Dean RDA

October 2023

At National Office at RDAUK, it is essential for members of staff to get out into the volunteer network, to connect with our members and see the people that our activities directly benefit. On the Thursday the 19th of October, Barbora Hallam Skalova Director of Business Improvement at RDAUK, visited the Royal Forest of Dean Driving group. She was also joined by the new Chair Elect Helena Vega-Lozano, Regional Driving Rep Anne Coney and Regional Chair Rachel Vaughan-Johns – who also organised and hosted the visit.  

Barbora’s Travels… 

Well, what can I say, it was simply wonderful to see a group of volunteers so dedicated to our cause! We were greeted by Elizabeth Stephens, and I met with experienced coaches and volunteers, who take care of administrative tasks, logistics, health and safety, escort and most importantly make the most wonderful cups of tea with an array of biscuits.  

I also had a go at driving the carriage under the watchful eye of experienced coach David. It’s much harder than you think, but I really enjoyed it. The most wonderful experience of the day was to see the sheer delight of the participants- some even sing along! 

I know how important role RDA play in lives of many, but to go out there and see it, it’s really heartfelt and makes everything we do worth it. 

Barbora Hallam Skalova and David carriage driving.

Barbora Hallam Skalova, Director of Business and Improvement, and David carriage driving.

 

Helena Vega-Lozano carriage driving with the Royal Forest of Dean Group.

Chair Elect Helena Vega-Lozano having a go at carriage driving with David.

Anne Coney carriage driving.

National Championships Lead, Anne Coney and David carriage driving.

Page Last Updated: November 1, 2023