Keep up to date with RDA UK with our fortnightly newsletter.
Please share with your Group, volunteers and participants.
Newest Newsletter:
Past editions:
Governance Review & Roadshow
September 18, 2024
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: September 20, 2024
RDA Celebrates 55th Anniversary with Launch of Special ‘Over and Above’ Award Certificates
September 17, 2024
Pictured above from left to right: Helena Vega-Lozano, RDA UK Chair of Trustees, Greta Duff, Long serving volunteer & 55th Anniversary Over & Above Award Recipient and Malcolm Wharton CBE – Chard & District Group Chair.
As part of our 55th Anniversary celebrations, we are excited to introduce the limited-edition 55th Anniversary Over and Above Award. This special recognition honors volunteers who have exceeded expectations to make a positive impact on individuals, their group, or the wider RDA community. Whether through innovative thinking, offering invaluable support during challenging times, or going the extra mile, these volunteers embody RDA’s core values of selflessness, dedication, and unwavering commitment to our mission.
On August 28th, during Chard and District RDA’s 40th Anniversary celebration, Helena Vega-Lozano, RDA UK Chair of Trustees, proudly presented the first-ever 55th Anniversary Over and Above Certificate to Greta Duff, an outstanding volunteer who has been a key figure in the group’s success for over 35 years.
Greta’s involvement with Chard and District RDA began 40 years ago, when she initially loaned ponies to the group. Since 1989, Greta has been a dedicated volunteer, contributing to numerous capacities—from organising Thursday night volunteer sessions to serving as a committee member and currently as a Director. The group Chair, Malcolm Wharton CBE, says “Greta’s contributions to the group are immeasurable; she has been the heartbeat of the group,” Greta also serves as Rides Organiser, as well as playing a key role in fundraising, sourcing riders, volunteers, and organising thank-you events.
In receiving the award Greta said
“I am greatly honoured to receive this award. Our celebration tea party highlighted the strength of support and goodwill we enjoy as a group. It was very pleasing to see friends who have supported us from the very first meeting.
My daughter was one of our riders for many years and then went on to the Fortune Centre of Riding Therapy. We are aware of the magic of ponies, and how just a short time with them in a session can change lives and give so much pleasure.
We had to rebuild and restart the group after lock down and it is thanks to the support of friends, past volunteers, and Malcolm, who became our Chair, that we overcame initial challenges and are starting to secure the future of our group. A huge thankyou to everyone.”
Greta’s commitment and dedication to the group over the past four decades perfectly exemplify the spirit of the 55th Anniversary Over and Above Award, making her a well-deserved recipient of this recognition.
A limited number of certificates are available until the end of the year, and the award is open to all volunteers – whether at the group, county, regional, or national level. This award focuses on the impact made rather than length of service.
The 55th Anniversary Over and Above certificates are available to order through group orders website now – click here.
Page Last Updated: October 7, 2024
Rachel and Mel’s Yorkshire Visit
February 21, 2024
Rachel King has recently joined the RDA UK team as our new Volunteering Manager, bringing a wealth of experience and passion for supporting groups with recruitment, training, development, and recognition of volunteers. She is looking forward to collaborating with RDA groups to enhance their already incredible work and supporting them to achieve their goals.
Last week, Rachel, along with Melanie Parry, our Volunteer Coordinator, visited Wakefield RDA and North Ferriby RDA in Yorkshire, introducing Rachel to the inspiring world of RDA Groups.
Wakefield RDA
Rachel meets Bill the pony at Wakefield RDA
‘My third week at RDA ended with my first visit to a very snowy Yorkshire! On the 8th of February, I visited Wakefield RDA where Melanie Parry introduced me to Carol and her team (including Bill – what an absolute gent!). A big thank you for having us & giving us your time and showing us around – even in the snow! It’s amazing to see the incredible work you are doing! I absolutely love how much I am learning in each & every conversation with RDA volunteers.
North Ferriby RDA
My Yorkshire trip was rounded off with a visit to North Ferriby RDA and all I can say is wow – what a special place. From the moment I walked through the front gate I felt welcomed, and I quickly understood why this is a safe space for so many – participants and volunteers alike. It was great to see some young volunteers in action on the yard, and I particularly enjoyed learning about the history of the group and where it all started. I loved hearing young people’s stories and all about their achievements, as well as the teams’ individual journeys as RDA volunteers.
Their passion for offering more than just riding at this group absolutely shone through and it was clear to me that people & animals from whatever walk off life could find their place here. To the passionate & dedicated people making this happen and making an impact on so many lives – thank you again and again. I look forward to hearing about all your successes this year and visiting again sometime soon, hopefully in the sunshine! Dolly & the donkeys made me feel especially welcome (even cheeky Chad who tried to have a munch on my coat).
Rachel meets Dolly at North Ferriby RDA
Mel meets one of the North Ferriby donkeys
I am really looking forward to connecting with more RDA groups and volunteers over the coming weeks & months to learn from your experiences, and support you in our mission to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals with disabilities through horses. – so let me know if you would like a visitor!’
To get in touch with Rachel…
Page Last Updated: February 21, 2024
Gillian Yarrow Celebrates 50 Years of RDA Service
January 24, 2024
Gillian Yarrow being presented with a 50 Years of Service Award by North Regional Chair, Pauline Harrison
On the 11th of January 2024 Gillian Yarrow, the Group Chair of Carlisle RDA Group, was presented with the RDA’s 50 Years of Service Award for Volunteering. The award was presented at a Group lunch by North Regional Chair, Pauline Harrison. Gillian is a dedicated volunteer who for many years has supported participants and volunteers alike through countless competitions, being a regular attender at Regional Qualifiers and the RDA National Championships at Hartpury. In 2023, Gillian’s group celebrated it’s own 50th anniversary, as well as being the host of the North Regional Qualifiers where previous Chair of Trustees and now Honorary Life Vice President, Sam Orde, presented Gillian with an Over and Above Award.
Pauline Harrison, North Regional Chair said:
“I was honoured to present the ‘Long Service’ award to The Chair of Carlisle RDA Group, Gillian Yarrow. Over the fifty years Gillian has inevitably had life difficulties but her dedication, commitment and determination to helping others through RDA never wavered. She has influenced and helped to improve the lives of so many.
Gillian said to me “I have enjoyed my RDA experience so much, it has taken me so many different places and given me so much“.
That is typical of Gillian’s outlook and why RDA owe her a huge debt of gratitude.”
Congratulations to Gillian and thank you for your continued dedication to RDA.
Page Last Updated: January 24, 2024
Emma’s Gold Award
January 8, 2024
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
The Cavalier Centre
November 30, 2023
Philippa Fairhall and Mel Parry on a visit to The Cavalier Centre
On Thursday 16th November, Mel Parry, our Regional Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator (Yorkshire), and Philippa Fairhall, our new Philanthropy Manager at RDA UK, visited The Cavalier Centre to find out more about two projects run by the group; Stable Relationships (a 12 week 1:1 programme for young people aged between 8-18 with social and emotional problems) and Steps (a 12 week programme delivered in small groups, aimed at out of work adults).
Both projects focus on emotional wellbeing, mental health and growing confidence and social skills and are drawing in individuals with little to no previous experience of horses.
It was wonderful to hear firsthand from Rachel Lambert Jones and Jane Johnson the transformation effect of the projects and both Mel and Philippa were very grateful for their time, their shared knowledge and the tour of their amazing centre. The news of the group’s “Kings Award for Voluntary Service” had just been made public the day before, so it was great to celebrate that and congratulate the whole team on such a prestigious recognition!
Page Last Updated: November 30, 2023
A Visit to Lambourn RDA
November 30, 2023
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
The Pat Straughan Award 2023 – Khianna Lucas-Young, Bradbourne RDA
November 15, 2023
Pat Straughan Winner 2023 Khianna Lucas-Young being presented her award by Barbora Hallam-Skalova at the South-East Regional Conference.
On the 25th of October 2023, the Pat Straughan Award was presented at the South-East Regional Conference. The winner of such a prestigious award this year was Khianna Lucas-Young from Bradbourne RDA.
7 years ago, aged 7, Khianna was diagnosed with leukemia and began a long course of chemotherapy that ended in August 2018. Soon after she relapsed which resulted in more chemotherapy and radiotherapy before a bone marrow transplant in February 2019, during which time she was in hospital for five months.
After her treatment, Khianna’s life returned to a “sort of normal” and she returned to school, but on 1 March 2020 she woke and wasn’t able to walk. She was rushed to hospital but within a few days she was paralysed from the neck down and completely blind. An MRI resulted in a diagnosis of neuromyelitis optical – inflammation of the spinal cord and optical nerve. Khianna and her nan spent the whole of the first Covid lockdown together at Kings Hospital followed by lengthy rehabilitation at Stoke Mandeville.
In November 2021 that Khianna started riding at Bradbourne, having never ridden before. At first she was in a wheelchair, and she rode on the lead rein, but she learned the letters of the school almost immediately and, with speakers and volunteers at letters, she was soon riding independently and finding her way around the indoor school. Just 5 months after her first riding lesson, with immense motivation, concentration and love for what she was doing, Khianna competed in her first dressage test in Walk in April 2022 at Felbridge. Her coach walked around the arena with her, and she did an amazing test. Her next test in May was in an arena on her own at Plumpton and it was here that she qualified for the National Championships. However, it was not to be as it was the weekend of the 2022 heatwave and Bradbourne made the difficult decision not to attend.
Khianna no longer uses a wheelchair, though her mobility is still compromised, and she never regained her eyesight, and in September last year she began to learn to trot. She was utterly determined to compete in a Walk / Trot test for the Regional Qualifier and to continue to challenge herself.
What is particularly amazing about Khianna is her always positive attitude, her love and appreciation for her RDA pony, Patch, and the way she inspires every single volunteer who has met her. She is courageous and full of laughter and humour but committed to improve and push herself to achieve. Though she is nervous before competitions she has a determination that is not often seen, especially in someone so young and who has experienced such life changing illness.
Khianna qualified at the Regional Dressage event this May at Hickstead and many were in tears. She went on to compete at Hartpury, riding an incredible test and finishing 1st in her Walk & Trot Class. What an incredible achievement and what a testament to her courage, warmth and beautiful nature.
The award was presented by Director of Business Improvement at RDAUK, Barbora Hallam Skalova. Barbora said: “I felt truly privileged to be asked to present Khianna with her award. It’s moments like these that remind me of the incredible joy and impact that comes with working for RDA. It’s not just a job; it’s a privilege to be part of such a meaningful community.“
Citation written by Khianna’s Coach, Jenna Leight, SE Region Coach
Adapted by Pauline Roestenburg, SE Region Chair
Page Last Updated: November 15, 2023
The Dudley-Smith Award Winners 2023
November 15, 2023
Helena Vega-Lozano and Ann Miller, Maryculter Carriage Driving group
Susan Dudley-Smith Award Winners 2023: Ann Miller, George Masson and Arthur Ingram with pony Brodie
The Dudley Smith award is presented to volunteers who have gone ‘over and above’ in supporting carriage driving. This year’s recipients were Ann Miller, George Masson and Arthur Ingram of Maryculter Carriage Driving group who worked tirelessly through the winter, (in the North East of Scotland) to train and prepare their new pony Brodie for assessment so the group would be able to resume in the spring. They were nominated by the Regional Driving Rep for Grampian and Highlands, Diana Milligan, who herself was recognised by Ann Miller as having given huge support to the group.
The award was presented at the recent Grampian & Highland regional gathering by Helena Vega-Lozano who spent 2 days on a visit to the region where she visited the ARC Hippotherapy and the Highland Groups as well as spending the afternoon with 45 coaches and volunteers at the Gathering.
Page Last Updated: November 15, 2023