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

Page Last Updated: March 3, 2022

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

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

Page Last Updated: January 19, 2022

Launch of Princess Royal Coaching Academy

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
Page Last Updated: November 12, 2021

Human Equine Interaction Register consultation

I am writing in my capacity as Chair of the Steering Group to establish a Human Equine Interaction Register (HEIR) for which the need was discussed at a meeting of Horses in Education and Therapy International (HETI) back in 2019. I am delighted to say that now things are returning to some recognition of normal, we have been able to make some progress towards making the register a reality.

The aim of the register is to bring together all people involved in the field of human equine interaction to ensure high quality service provision and create a greater awareness of their work. It was agreed that this was needed to offer a greater level of protection and safety for all those involved in the sector whether that be the providers, commissioners, service users or horses.

Greater transparency of attainment of minimum standards in such areas as safeguarding, first aid, equine welfare and insurance will be the first base for self-registration and there will follow an opportunity to demonstrate skills, experience and knowledge as applicable. This is so that funders and service users will be able to make informed choices about the service being offered at all levels of practice. It is not intended that the register will be an accrediting body as that is already in place with the different professions involved.

Over the coming weeks we will be engaging with the sector to seek your views about the proposals. The register will be created with and not to commissioners, practitioners and service users for mutual benefit. If all goes to plan, we hope to open an online survey on Monday 27th September for 5 weeks for people to respond to the proposals and give feedback about how the register will work in practice.

However, we want to make sure that everyone has sufficient information to make an informed response so we have arranged a series of virtual and physical briefing session to explain the plans in more detail and offer an opportunity for questions.

If you would like to attend, please register for any of the following so that we can plan accordingly and in particular, make sure that the face to face event is Covid safe.

Wednesday 6th October 2.30-4pm Online Webinar

Register to attend here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/human-equine-interaction-register-webinar-1-tickets-170493755412

 

Tuesday 12th October at 6.30pm – 8pm Online webinar

Register to attend here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/human-equine-interaction-register-webinar-2-evening-option-tickets-170497117468

 

Friday 15th October 11am – 3pm at RDA HQ, Warwickshire

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/human-equine-interaction-register-consultation-event-tickets-170496152582

 

If you wish to email us with a question at any time we can be contacted at heiruk@hetifoundation.org and there is more information on the website at UK National Register – HEIR | HETI Federation

We will be providing regular updates on the HEIR Facebook page so please like, follow and share to stay in touch Human Equine Interaction Register UK – Home | Facebook

Best wishes,

Ed Bracher

Page Last Updated: September 15, 2021

In memory of Lady Rosamund Gladstone

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Lady Rosamund Gladstone who died peacefully at home on 1st September. Very many of her years were devoted to RDA and she is remembered in latter years as a loyal, committed Trustee of Clwyd Special Riding Centre (CSRC) where she was Chairman for twenty years.

She formed the Deeside RDA Group in the early 70’s at a friend’s yard, went on to become County Chair of Clwyd and then Regional Chair for North Wales.

After being instrumental in the establishment of CSRC, she remained heavily involved, throwing herself into running the centre with great commitment. She became its President after her retirement and remained so until her death.

Her lasting legacy will be her introduction of RDA holidays. At first these were run at home at Hawarden Castle and then at CSRC in mobile homes and caravans. Later on the holiday accommodation was built and national and international holidays took place including some riders from Russia and China. She continued to meet and greet every RDA holiday group with a cake and a chat up until the time that she retired.

She served on the National Holidays Committee for many years and several times took parties of riders with additional needs to Portugal.

She was the recipient of the Birt Spooner trophy and The President’s Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to RDA.

Rosamund has given so much to RDA and the Clwyd Special Riding Centre over the years that it would take too long to record it all but she has brought happiness to many with her dedication, enthusiasm and vision.

Ann Lambert, CSRC

Page Last Updated: September 8, 2021

Saddleworth hosts Horse 4 health Relay event

Being part of the inaugural Health for Horses Relay was a fantastic way to celebrate our beloved horses, acknowledge how they’ve helped us through the past year and the impact they have on our mental health.  Getting involved offered our participants and volunteers a new and exciting experience, whilst supporting H4H’s other initiatives, to promote riding road safety and raise funds for 7 wonderful equine charities (including RDA).  

We decided to hold our first ever Countryside Challenge as the main event and contacted H4H organiser Sophie Gifford. She opened her black book of contacts and very soon we had Naylors sponsoring the Countryside Challenge prizes, BETA’s mechanical horse “RoboCob”, goodie bags and even Greater Manchester Mounted Police were on board!

Our community really came together to support us; Tesco provided refreshments, volunteers and families baked delicious cakes, the village pub provided sandwiches, Pony Club loaned us equipment and a reporter came from the paper to raise awareness of H4H and RDA.  A local Championship level circuit judge kindly volunteered to judge riders and present prizes. 

Sheila Saner, Greater Manchester County Chair was a fantastic support and supervised riders on the mechanical horse as we didn’t have any experience of this.  The majority of our riders had never experienced a canter but all of them cantered on RoboCob and the smiles were HUGE!  With Sheila’s guidance our coaching team could see the advantages of using a simulator alongside real ponies and we’re now exploring whether buying our own is an option. 

After two weeks of glorious weather, typically the heavens opened and our Countryside Challenge in the outdoor arena was a very soggy one but the whole place was buzzing! Having multiple ‘zones’ with things to do, see and eat resulted in a brilliant day for everyone and we raised £545 for Health for Horses. 

We obviously had to adapt our plans to meet covid regulations with staggered arrival times etc but this took nothing away from the day. We’d highly recommend it to other groups and if anyone wants to ask us anything we’d be delighted to help! 

Contact Alison Pickering at: rdasaddleworth@gmail.com 

Page Last Updated: July 22, 2021

Weekly News 17 June

Just before the weather takes a nose-dive (it may already have done so with you), it seems fitting that today’s email is basically all about holidays. Specifically – tonight’s webinar and our ‘Grand Day Out’ project. More on these below. So grab your bucket and spade and head for the beach…..

Before you go, a reminder that we hold our EGM this morning to elect our new Chair. Ed Bracher will email you with the outcome of this later today.

RDA Grand Day Out & holidays

We are delighted to announce our Grand Day Out initiative, the brainchild of Judy Olby, our National Holidays Lead.  With thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery, we can support about 50 Groups with a contribution of up to £100 to take their participants and volunteer on a Day Out, helping groups to reconnect even if they cannot get back to full sessions just yet.  Watch the webinar with National Holiday’s Lead Judy Olby this evening to find out more (details below).

Holidays

Even though we are not running National Holidays this year due to COVID-19, your group can link up directly with holiday providers. As an example, Clwyd Special Riding Centre www.clwydspecialridingcentre.co.uk are planning to open in early July and would be delighted if any groups wanted to holiday with them. The Accessibility Mark Centre on the Isle of Wight, Island Riding, offers accessible holidays with accommodation on site www.islandriding.com.

30-minute webinar

Tonight, 17 June, 7pm, Holidays and ‘Grand Day Out’

RDA’s Queen of Holidays, Judy Olby will be inspiring you to make the most of the Summer by arranging a day out or holiday for your participants – a great way to reconnect after so long without being together, especially for groups that haven’t been able to restart yet. As we launch our ‘Grand Day Out’ project, Judy will explain more about this new initiative.

Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PlT4hLDyS4msdmDAdQ93pw

Next week: 24 June, Legal Matters

RDA’s Legal Advisor Shivaji Shiva and Chief Executive Ed Bracher will cover some of the issues most commonly raised by groups.

Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__hBokJPQTtyhoM9SjkskPQ 

Road to Restart – side walkers

The Road to Restart Working Group have listened to the challenges faced by our groups and riders, have looked at the evidence, including the increasing vaccination rate, and can now confirm that riders that need specific assistance in RDA sessions may be permitted to have 2 side walkers during sessions from next Monday, 21 June across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and in Level 0 and 1 areas in Scotland.

Hand sanitisation for the side walkers and the leader must take place prior to and after the session and both side walkers must wear a face covering at all times when side walking.  The leader must look away at all times from both side walkers and the rider at all times and may also consider wearing a face covering as further mitigation.  The side walkers and leader should aim to be as socially distanced as possible whilst ensuring the rider is supported safely at all times.  All activities should take place outdoors or in a well-ventilated covered arena.

The Group, as well as all volunteers and participants involved, should be comfortable with what they are being asked to do at all times. Even though we cannot require our volunteers to be double vaccinated, or even ask their vaccination status, it is likely that those who will feel most comfortable in side walking will be those who have the greatest level of protection.

Hope for COVID Heroes

We are supporting a new project #HopeForCOVIDHeroes offering equine facilitated intervention to frontline workers affected by COVID-19. Currently in its pilot phase, we hope to become one of several HETI members delivering the programme later this year. More here: www.god-unlimited.org/helpforcovidheroes-support…/

Vacancies at National Office

We have left a few roles at National Office vacant during the last year, and now we plan to start recruiting again. These positions will be publicly available to view here – where you will already see the role of Communications Coordinator advertised www.rda.org.uk/join-the-rda-uk-team/

Vacancies will also be posted internally on MyRDA at myrda.org.uk/about-rda/latest-news/

Find us on Facebook

There are several RDA Facebook groups you can join if you are interested or involved in specific activities. These include:  RDA Equine, RDA Endurance, RDA Carriage Driving, RDA Showjumping, RDA Vaulting and RDA National Championships & Competitions. They are useful spaces for discussion and sharing information and can be a great way to connect with people around RDA with similar interests.

Page Last Updated: June 17, 2021

Rachel Medill MBE elected as new Chair of RDA UK

Rachel Medill, MBE brings trustee and equestrian knowledge to ‘meet the growing need for support’

RDA has announced that Rachel Medill MBE will be the charity’s new Chair of Trustees. Voted in by members at an Extraordinary General Meeting, Rachel will start the new role immediately. The appointment follows a rigorous recruitment process, with exceptional candidates coming forward to be considered for the prestigious post.

Rachel has a lifelong connection with horses. She was shortlisted for junior and young rider British eventing teams and was 14th at Burghley before starting her career in the City of London (as Director of PR, Corporate Communications and Direct Marketing). In 2000, she left the City and has since held various consultancy and board positions, including 5 years as an independent director of the British Equestrian Federation.

In 2008, Rachel founded a charity, Ride High, in order to support children who are vulnerable, isolated, disadvantaged or otherwise struggling to cope with daily life. She developed programmes which use horses to connect with children, and associated educational projects to build confidence and self esteem as well as social, communication and literacy skills. In 2020, having built the organisation into a thriving social enterprise, she stepped back from her full-time role as CEO with the intention of bringing her strategic and business experience to a national leadership role in the charity sector. In 2016 Rachel received an MBE for her services to children.

“We are delighted to welcome Rachel Medill to RDA,” says Chief Executive Ed Bracher. “She joins us at an exciting but undoubtedly challenging time, as we bring our groups out of lockdown and get back to pre-COVID activity levels across the UK. We are finalising our strategy for the next five years – including an ambitious programme of growth and development – and I know we will benefit from Rachel’s experience and understanding of our work.”

Rachel Medill says; “I’m very excited about becoming Chair of Trustees at RDA UK as it combines so much of what I am passionate about. I join a community of people united by their belief in the extraordinary, gentle power of horses to bring happiness and aspiration. In the wake of the pandemic when so many people are struggling I want to encourage the widest range of people to be involved and engaged with the organisation so that we can meet the growing need for our support.”

Page Last Updated: June 17, 2021

Weekly News 10 June

I was sad to hear about the death of Carolyn (Carol) Hall who had been suffering from Dementia. Until her retirement on health grounds some 5+ years ago, Carol was the backbone of the West Suffolk Group, where she was coach and Chair. She was also County Coach for Suffolk and a Coach Developer for East Region. Carol volunteered for over 40 years. She worked tirelessly at the Regional Qualifiers and Regional Training Days.  She was a regular volunteer at Hartpury on the Countryside Challenge Course and helped make all the riders feel very special when competing there. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.

With thanks to Sue Diggins and Sue Price

EGM reminder

A reminder about next week’s EGM – please cast your group vote for the new Chair of RDA UK if you haven’t already done so. The link to vote is: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/EGM17June21


3 Carriages available

North Meols Carriage Driving Group is sadly having to close and they have 3 carriages, a Fenix, a Charles Wylie, which takes a wheelchair, a Bennington, and a ramp available to donate to other RDA groups. If your group might be interested, or you would like further information, please contact Fiona Caplan on either bafilo@tiscali.co.uk or 01704 566728.


30-minute webinar

Tonight, 7pm Coaching Week special

To mark Coaching Week, we hear from Abingdon Coach and regular blogger India Collins-Davies about what coaching within RDA means to her, what she missed during lockdown and what is enriching her life once again now the group is back open and filming their virtual qualifier videos. She’ll also use the opportunity to reach out to young coaches and volunteers who are thinking about joining the coaching pathway.

Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7lxOcr11QeOu-Td7VYw6Nw

Next week: 17 June, Surprise webinar

The surprise is I don’t know what it is yet! Rest assured there will be one and it will be excellent. I’ll circulate the details in next week’s email so apologies that it will be very short notice.

Regional Equine Advisor for three regions

We are looking to fill this vital role in Grampian & Highland, North Midlands and North Wales. If you or anyone you know might be interested please take a look at the role description here: https://myrda.org.uk/assets/Role-Profile-Regional-Equine-Advisor-0621-pdf-1-1.pdf

Any applications or enquiries to Emma Bayliss at ebayliss@rda.org.uk

Corporate Fundraising Workshop

Thanks to giving you the wrong email address for Clare Pryme, making it somewhat difficult for people to register, the corporate fundraising workshop is being rearranged for a later date (tbc). If you would be interested in attending, do let Clare know at cpryme@rda.org.uk so she can contact you when a date has been agreed. As before, this is for 15 people (one delegate per group please), with places offered on a first come first served basis.

As a reminder, this workshop is:

An Introduction to Corporate Fundraising: a practical learning session designed to benefit people who are completely new to fundraising. The workshop provides insight into corporate fundraising and increasing your knowledge in this area. Led by highly experienced corporate fundraisers, the session will introduce a practical approach and cover a wide range of topics including:

  • The different fundraising methods corporates could use to support your organisation.
  • Gaining an understanding of what corporates expect in return for their support.
Page Last Updated: June 16, 2021

Weekly News 3 June

Few good things have happened as a result of COVID-19, but one silver lining has been the increased recognition of volunteering and the absolute necessity of people giving their time in all sorts of ways so that communities can survive and thrive.

This Volunteers’ Week I like to say thank you to each and every one of you for everything you have done to support your group and the wider RDA community through this incredibly tough year.

Sadly, I have to report the death of Pat Messam, County Physio in Norfolk for many years and Joint Regional Physio for East Region. Norfolk County Coach Lorna Mitchell says: “Pat, though a quiet gentle person, had great strength of character and resilience who made a difference to so many of us in Norfolk.”

An interview with Rachel Medill

Ahead of the EGM to vote in the new Chair of RDA UK, we asked Interim Chair and Regional Chair for South Region Frances Lochrane to record a chat with nominee Rachel Medill, to help you put a face to the name and find out more about her. The conversation is available to watch here: https://youtu.be/hVqN5jGF-m4

Fundraising Workshops

Our fundraising team will be delivering a series of training sessions for novice fundraisers over the next few weeks, via Zoom. There are 15 places available on each workshop on a first come first serve basis (one person per group please). Further workshops are planned, including for those with more experience of fundraising.

  1. An Introduction to Corporate Fundraising: a practical learning session designed to benefit people who are completely new to fundraising. The workshop provides insight into corporate fundraising and increasing your knowledge in this area. Led by highly experienced corporate fundraisers, the session will introduce a practical approach and cover a wide range of topics including:
  • The different fundraising methods corporates could use to support your organisation.
  • Gaining an understanding of what corporates expect in return for their support.

Details:

  • Wednesday 9 June, 10:30am – 1:00pm
  • Register your interest by Monday 7 June to: cpryme@rda.org.uk

 

  1. An Introduction to fundraising: if you are new to fundraising and want to develop your understanding and knowledge of fundraising this is the workshop for you.  We will cover topics including:
  • Useful tools and resources to find funding opportunities.
  • A practical introduction covering basic principles and best practices. 
  • Understanding how to manage your relationships and why your relationship(s) with your donors and supporters is critical to your success.

Details:

  • Wednesday 17 June, 10:30am – 1:00pm
  • Register your interest by 15 June to: cyapp@rda.org.uk

 

  1. An Introduction to Grant Making: whether you are new to grant fundraising, looking to build on your fundraising experience, or you are supporting others to make grant funding applications, this programme will help you build your knowledge and skills to do so.  This workshop is aimed at attendees at various levels of experience. We will cover topics including:
  • How to find funding opportunities and how to decide which funds are right for you.
  • Investigate reasons applications are rejected, and top tips for increasing your success rates.
  • Understand how applications are assessed and start to look at your applications from the perspective of the funder.

Details:

  • Wednesday 22nd June, 10:30am – 1:00pm
  • Register your interest by Monday 20 June to: rthompson@rda.org.uk

30-minute webinar

Tonight, 7pm Volunteers’ Week Special

Lindsay Correa, National Volunteering Lead and Faye McKenning, Projects Co-ordinator: Volunteer Development will be talking about all things volunteering, and Lindsay’s volunteering journey. If you have any questions please send them to fmckenning@rda.org.uk

Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nfsR3IA1SFaxjvsLsoYy8w

Next week: 10 June, Coaching Week

To mark Coaching Week, we hear from Abingdon Coach and regular blogger India Collins-Davies about what coaching within RDA means to her, what she missed during lockdown and what is enriching her life once again now the group is back open and filming their virtual qualifier videos. She’ll also use the opportunity to reach out to young coaches and volunteers who are thinking about joining the coaching pathway.

Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7lxOcr11QeOu-Td7VYw6Nw

You can catch India’s blog here: https://www.rdacoachindia.co.uk/

RDA Banners mystery!

We seem to be missing a couple of RDA event banners (like you might put above a stand or on a fence). They are big and white and have just our logo and website on them. Is there any chance you know where they are? Have they been forgotten about during lockdown? We’d love them back so if you can help solve our mystery please email Cat cyapp@rda.org.uk

Page Last Updated: June 16, 2021