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RDA UK is looking for new trustees

January 10, 2023

RDA UK is looking for new trustees

Riding for the Disabled Association UK (RDA) is looking for up to three new trustees to join its board. At least one will be an elected member of the Board i.e. nominated by a member group of the RDA and one will be a Senior Independent Director (SID) who will work closely with the Chair of Trustees, the Board and the CEO.

Riding for the Disabled Association UK (RDA) is looking for up to three new trustees to join its board. At least one will be an elected member of the Board i.e. nominated by a member group of the RDA and one will be a Senior Independent Director (SID) who will work closely with the Chair of Trustees, the Board and the CEO.

At RDA, our horses benefit the lives of disabled children and adults. With fun activities like riding and carriage driving, we provide therapy, fitness, skills development and opportunities for achievement – all supported by 14,000 amazing volunteers and qualified coaches at 432 RDA groups and commercial centres all over the UK.

RDA is an inclusive and diverse organisation. We welcome clients with physical and learning disabilities and autism, and there are no age restrictions. Through our network of member groups, RDA is at work in every corner of the UK, in our cities and remote rural areas, bringing the therapy, achievement and fun of horses to as many people as we can.

Key details:
Job title: Trustees x3 (including 1 SID)
Location: Lowlands Equestrian Centre, Old Warwick Road, Shrewley, CV35 7AX
Salary: Trustee positions at the RDA are voluntary. Agreed expenses are reimbursed.
Term of office: 3 year term renewable for up to 3 terms.

Experience
We are looking for candidates who have significant experience in at least one of the following areas:
• Advocacy and policy work in the areas of disability, accessibility, equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Coaching and Education – Practice, Programming and Policy. This experience will have been gained either in RDA or in another sector or organisation.
• Statutory funding, Local Authority commissioning/social prescribing.
• Human Resources strategy and planning in a medium to large organisation.
• Digital transformation – experience in implementing new processes, systems and operating practices in a medium to large organisation.
• Operating at a senior strategic leadership level within a medium to large organisation.
• Charity governance and working with or as part of a Board of Trustees.
For the SID position RDA is seeking someone who will take on extra responsibilities such as chairing the Board in the absence of the Chair; establishing and building an effective and strong working relationship with the Chief Executive; and provide support to the Chair to enable the Board to fulfil its responsibilities for the overall governance and strategic direction of the organisation.

Candidates should:
• Demonstrate a strong and visible passion and commitment to RDA, its strategic objectives and cause.
• Exhibit strong relationship building abilities and be comfortable in an ambassadorial role.
• Demonstrate tact and diplomacy, with the ability to listen and engage effectively.
• Demonstrate an ability to foster and promote a collaborative team environment.
• Have a good understanding of charity governance matters and of risk management and financial controls (essential for the SID position)

Time Commitment
• 4 Board meetings per year. In addition, Trustees will be asked to join one of RDA’s sub-committees.
• All trustees are expected to attend key RDA events and visit RDA groups from time to time.
• The SID is also expected to have regular meetings with the Chair and Chief Executive.
• It is expected that the trustee role will require working on average 3 days per month.

Closing date for applications: 9am, Tuesday 31st January 2023.
• If you would like to receive an Information Pack on how to apply, please send a CV in confidence to our consultant Nick Shanks at nick.shanks@harrishill.co.uk
• For an informal and confidential conversation about either position, please contact Nick at the above address with your contact details, and suitable times to chat.
• Please note: responding to this advertisement will not in itself be considered an application. We will need a CV and a supporting statement addressing the full person specification in the information pack.

Both RDA and Harris Hill operate an equal opportunity policy and commit to treating all of our candidates and jobseekers fairly. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

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Page Last Updated: January 10, 2023

Job Vacancy – Head Girl/Lad at Penniwells RDA

December 13, 2022

A rewarding role for an enthusiastic, motivated and experienced person. To take the lead on day to day yard duties working with a small team of coaches/grooms and lots of volunteers. A good interest in RDA is vital although coaching training can be given. Ideally the applicant will have BHS Level 3 or equivalent and be keen to coach RDA riders of all levels. You will be involved in training and organising new volunteers along with increasing rider numbers. Plenty of schooling/hacking etc of all horses and ponies for the right applicant. Possibility of own horse. 5 day week with one day working at the weekend. 8am – 5.30pm. live in role with some late checks to be done. Sorry but no pets in accommodation. This is a fun and rewarding working environment – sense of humour is essential along with a real can do attitude.

More information can be found here: https://www.yardandgroom.com/Job/UK/Hertfordshire/Head-Girl-Lad/399644

Filed Under: News
Page Last Updated: December 13, 2022

Annual Return 2022 – Two weeks left to complete

October 3, 2022
The RDA National Office would just like to remind all groups that there is just over 2 weeks left to complete the Annual Return for 2022. The deadline is Thursday 20th October.
 
All information including a guidance document for the Return, who to contact for queries, and the link to the Return, can be found on the dedicated MyRDA page here: https://myrda.org.uk/runningyourg…/annual-return-2022/ We encourage you to read the guidelines document and all the information on the MyRDA page first before beginning your Annual Return.
 
Every group needs to complete the Return, even if they are currently closed as there are still relevant questions.
 
If you have any queries or concerns, please get in touch with Laura Cartwright at lcartwright@rda.org.uk or 01926 476302.
 
Thank you.
 
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Page Last Updated: October 3, 2022

RDA Announces New National Vaulting Lead

September 30, 2022

Riding for the Disabled Association are delighted to announce that Elizabeth Bennett has been selected as their new National Vaulting Lead.

Lizzie has been involved in RDA for many years, and she is a strong advocate for vaulting both inside and outside of RDA. She has had her own competition success at RDA National Championships as well as British Equestrian Vaulting (BEV). In addition to her own competition success, Lizzie has supported others through her coaching, enabling them to also have competition success. Lizzie is a BEV Level 2 Coach as well as an RDA Vaulting coach.

Lizzie has told us a bit more about herself and her ambitions in this new role:

“In September 2014 I started riding with the RDA, thinking that I would never be able to get back to the sport I had loved as a child. I’d had ten long years since breaking my back and just sitting on a horse was really difficult, but the team at Cambridgeshire College RDA built me back up very gradually until I was able to canter and jump again. When I had the opportunity to try vaulting, I was a full-time wheelchair user and had no idea what I’d be able to manage. Again, the patience and enthusiasm of coaches at RDA and Cambridge Vaulting Club meant that I was fully involved in competing and doing displays from my earliest days in the sport.

“Fast forward a few years and my entire life has been transformed thanks to vaulting within RDA and British Equestrian Vaulting (BEV). Its taken a long time and a lot of hard work, but I have become so much happier and healthier (despite various injuries!) as a result. I have even been able to start work as a groom at an English Heritage property: caring for the horses, riding in displays (including side saddle), sharing the history of the stables with visitors, learning carriage driving, and doing a fair bit of dressing up!

“Earlier this year I was given the opportunity to own Puro, a Dutch Warmblood who I’ve worked with for years as coach, lunger and vaulter. He’s not perfect by any means (just like his owner!) but I trust him in a way I have never trusted any other horse. It’s been a delight to share him with other RDA and Para-vaulters, and to see vaulters from across the country competing on him at Hartpury was a very proud moment. He’s a very good boy!

“Coaching within RDA and BEV has allowed me to see in others what I myself have experienced over and over again: not dreams coming true, but rather things that you would never have even thought or known to have dreamed of or wished for. I have stopped limiting myself by what I think I can do, and instead I just keep taking little steps to see where they end up.

“I hope to do much the same thing in the role as RDA Vaulting Lead. Vaulting is such an exciting and inspiring activity, and it is accessible to disabled people in a way that riding isn’t. In vaulting, you can have another person on the horse with you for support. You don’t have to sit astride if that’s uncomfortable, and you don’t have to control the horse either. Vaulting is also a great way to learn about horses and to learn to appreciate them: every single thing we do as vaulters is analysed first and foremost in terms of the harmony with the horse. The relationship you can build with a vaulting horse is quite incredible too – in the absence of being able to ‘give’ aids, you switch purely into ‘receive’ mode, and become far more receptive to the horse as a result.

“The priorities for RDA Vaulting as we head into 2023 and beyond lie primarily within expanding it. We want more participants, which will mean more coaches, more barrel horses and, in time, more real horses too! Barrel vaulting is a highly competitive activity within RDA, and one which can bring many benefits to participants despite the lack of a ‘real’ horse. It’s also a no-brainer for RDA Groups – barrels don’t tend to eat much or need the farrier, after all. Vaulting in general is cost-effective even when there is a horse involved, as a group of vaulters will all work with just one horse.

“In order to create these opportunities for vaulters, we obviously need to train up more coaches. There are lots of misconceptions about vaulting – that it isn’t appropriate for those with physical disabilities, that it’s too specialist for coaches to learn, or that it’s cruel to the horse, for example. We need frank discussion of these things so that people can see vaulting for what it really is and what it can offer.

“In the short term, we would like to encourage groups to invest in a barrel (or two!) and to put coaches forwards to train in the basics of barrel vaulting, so it can be offered to participants and start to cut down those waiting lists. I am also hoping to introduce more regulations for horse welfare, many of which are already implicitly in place but could be more overtly stated. Longer term, we need to train more horses and develop coaches further. Although training has to be done by an experienced team, an RDA Vaulting horse needn’t be a special or expensive purchase for a group: all kinds of horses can take to it.

“My hope is that we can increase participation in vaulting and also educate people about how it all works and how it can benefit participants, groups and our horses. I have many more plans for beyond that but I think that would be a good start!“

Lizzie on Puro standing in stirrups

Lizzie on Puro at the RDA National Championships 2022

Filed Under: News
Page Last Updated: September 30, 2022

RDA UK Regional Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator

September 23, 2022

We have vacancies for 2 regional Volunteer Recruitment Coordinators within the Yorkshire region. 

To view the job description, click here

Deadline for applications 5th October 2022

Filed Under: News
Page Last Updated: September 23, 2022

RDA UK Regional Co-ordinator Vacancy

September 23, 2022

A vacancy has arisen within the Yorkshire Region to pilot an approach over a 6 month period to stimulate growth in numbers of participants in RDA activities in the North East and South Yorkshire Region.

To view the job description, click here

Deadline for applications 5th October 2022

Filed Under: News
Page Last Updated: September 23, 2022

RDA Extends its Condolences to the Royal Family Following the Sad Passing of Queen Elizabeth II

September 15, 2022

Queen Elizabeth 1926-2022

On Thursday 8th September, the sad news that Her Majesty, The Queen, had passed away was announced. Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), released the following statement: 

The volunteers, participants and staff of Riding for the Disabled Association would like to extend their heartfelt sadness and condolences to the Royal Family, particularly to our President, Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal.

Tributes in the coming days will doubtless mention The Queen’s enduring love of and affinity with horses. Her instinctive understanding of the power of horses to do good was a source of inspiration to so many people within our organisation.

We extend our thoughts and sympathy to all our members who may be affected by this news, and hope they will feel able to mark this sad occasion in whichever way they wish.

Condolences and tributes to the Royal Family and Our President have been pouring in from our member groups, which will be passed on to Buckingham Palace.

The funeral is to take place on Monday 19th September. Many RDA groups across the UK will be paying their respects to Her Majesty on Monday.

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Page Last Updated: September 15, 2022

Congratulations coaches – Princess Royal Coach Academy chooses coaches for its Coach Programme 2022

February 22, 2022

Congratulations to the following Coaches on their successful selection for the inaugural Princess Royal
Coach Academy – Coach Programme 2022:

  • Susan Law – Edinburgh, Lothian, and Borders
  • Andi Bruce – West & Central Scotland & Grampian & Highland
  • Frances Cape – Edinburgh and Borders
  • Laura Winter – North
  • Shirley Hart – East Yorkshire & Ryedale
  • Alys Lewis-Jones – North Wales
  • Kady Chatman – Mid West
  • Peggy Douglas – South West
  • Lizzie Hill – West Mercia
  • Holly McConnell – South East
  • Kate Gordon – Greater London
  • Natalie O’Rourke – Greater London
  • Louise Einchcomb – East
  • Kate El Bizanti – South East
  • Clare Pettitt – East
  • Kath Hatwell – East
  • Kate Bailey – North West
  • Clare Skinner – East
  • Alex Henderson – Grampian & Highland
  • Lorna Clark – Grampian & Highland

The Princess Royal Coach Academy aims to develop coaches with expertise who can support peers
and influence coaching programmes that improve participant experiences.

Coaches selected for this programme have shown that they are ambitious in improving their own
performance and already have success in coaching riders with disabilities; effectively encouraging and
challenging participants whilst creating enjoyable, person centred coaching environments.
Additionally coaches have demonstrated their commitment to the cascading of knowledge and
experience to peers across the RDA coaching pathway.

Successfully selected coaches are set to benefit from unique learning and development opportunities
including established communities of practice which offers exposure to new, innovative and relevant
ideas as well as reinforcing successful current practices.

Huge congratulations to all selected!

Filed Under: Group Admin, News Tagged With: , ,
Page Last Updated: March 3, 2022

Letter from UK Sport & Sport England about tackling racism in sport

January 19, 2022

The Chief Executives of Sport England and UK Sport have issued a joint letter regarding racism in sport, a copy of which you can find here. RDA is committed to greater equality, diversity and inclusion within our organisation, with a volunteer working party already in place to address this vital issue. For more information about this group and our commitment to ED&I please contact Lucy Wake lwake@rda.org.uk

UK Sport and Sport England – Joint Letter to Governing Bodies

Filed Under: Fundraising, Group Admin, News
Page Last Updated: January 19, 2022

Launch of Princess Royal Coaching Academy

November 8, 2021

On Friday 5 November The Princess Royal launched a new national Coaching Academy for RDA and announced the first Coach Mentors who are integral to the programme’s success.  The Academy, which will include training for newly appointed ‘Coach Mentors’, who have been selected from RDA’s existing Advanced Coach workforce, was officially launched by Her Royal Highness on a visit to RDA’s National Training Centre in Warwickshire.

The Princess Royal Coaching Academy recognises the importance of high performing coaches working with disabled riders. The initiative will increase the number of coaches moving to advanced training, which in turn will increase the number of disabled people RDA can support, helping to tackle waiting lists and unmet demand for its services at groups all over the UK.

Speaking to RDA UK volunteers, Coaches and staff, The Princess Royal referenced the early pioneers of RDA Coaching:

“It was that early understanding and example of standards that has made the organisation what it is. And for those of you who have followed in those footsteps and developed in your own ways in your own groups and in your own areas, there is a huge amount we have learned. I hope you will agree that the Coaching Academy is an appropriate use of that experience – and will make all of that experience go a little bit further, to encourage more people to take their places in the RDA, and to make that change for each of those individuals that they come across.”

The Academy is named after The Princess Royal, on the 50th anniversary of her becoming the RDA’s Patron in 1971 (she became President in 1985).

Ed Bracher, CEO of Riding for the Disabled Association, said:

“We are enormously excited to launch our new Coaching Academy. Our coaches lie at the heart of the RDA’s work and through the Academy, we aim to nurture talent, innovation and excellence. This is a core part of our plan to dramatically increase the number of disabled people we can support by our 60th anniversary in 2029. We are delighted that The Princess Royal has agreed to lend her name to the Academy, fifty years after she first became involved with RDA.”

 

John Studzinski CBE, the philanthropist who is supporting the first two years of the Academy, said:

“I am delighted to support this excellent new initiative from the RDA. The Coaching Academy will strengthen the RDA’s provision of training and support for its volunteers, coaches and mentors. Ultimately this will provide an even better experience for all the disabled children and adults the charity helps. I first got to know about the RDA over 10 years ago and was immediately struck by the value of its work. For me, above all else, RDA brings human dignity to people, which is a recurring theme across my philanthropic interests.”

 

Karen Thompson, RDA UK National Coaching Lead and newly appointed Mentor for The Princess Royal Coaching Academy says:

“I am honoured and privileged to be in the first cohort of Mentors for The Princess Royal Coaching Academy, and look forward to supporting RDA coaches through their Advanced training. I hope they will find it useful to have a sounding board – someone they can discuss ideas and concerns with – and who they can learn from. It’s great that RDA is recognising the experience and value of its senior Coaches, who have learned so much over many years, and providing a way for that expertise to be shared and passed on – not just for the benefit of other coaches, but ultimately so that more disabled people can take part.”

The first Mentors are:

  • Karen Thompson, RDA UK National Coaching Lead and Kesteven Rideability
  • Sarah Healing, Greater London Regional Coach and Penniwells RDA
  • Mark Cunliffe, National Coach Developer and North Cornwall RDA
  • Sister Mary Joy Langdon, Coach Developer and Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre
  • Sue Adams-Wheeler, Honorary Life Vice President, former National Coaching Lead
  • Bridget Mackwood, Mid West Regional Coach and Lyncombe Lodge RDA
  • Karen Glasgow, Edinburgh & Borders Regional Coach and Drum RDA
Filed Under: Group Admin, News
Page Last Updated: November 12, 2021
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