Fast Facts for Volunteers
| The Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) |
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| Location: RDA operates all over the UK and internationally. I visited the Aberdeen Group at the Tillyoch Equestrian Centre. Languages spoken: English Animals present: Horses and ponies (dependant on the group) Type of Organisation: Registered charity. Aims of organisation: The RDA is dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through horse riding, carriage driving and hippotherapy. RDA provides opportunities for therapy, achievement and enjoyment, improving health, wellbeing and self-confidence, and benefiting mobility and co-ordination. Aberdeen RDA is part of a network of around 500 volunteer groups throughout the UK. Types of volunteers accepted: The charity welcomes volunteers from all backgrounds, with no prior equine experience necessary. There are no fees to become a volunteer. Read more below. Research Links: The group is not currently involved in research projects. Those interested in research possibilities should contact the National RDA. Funding: The RDA is a registered charity that receives no government grants or funding. Local groups are supported by the National RDA, which receives donations and also raises money through the fundraising projects, mainly carried out by of their volunteers. |
Introduction to the RDA
The Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) will always be an organisation close to my heart. It was the first charity that I was ever involved with, and I spent many of my Saturday mornings as a teenager at my local branch in rural Australia. The RDA taught me that the value of volunteering lay both in helping others, and in building skills and confidence in myself.
More than a decade later, I found myself driving down a sun-dappled lane towards the Tillyoch Equestrian Centre, to meet with the Aberdeen RDA volunteers. Although I was visiting a branch on the opposite side of the world, I wondered whether the organisation would still seem as magical as I remembered it.
I parked my car, and saw a friendly volunteer wave me over as she unloaded a handsome palamino gelding from a float. I followed the swishing tail of the gelding as he was led into a large, tidy arena, where a dozen volunteers from all walks of life were rushing to and fro with riding equipment, traffic cones and props in preparation for the arrival of the riders.
The Aberdeen RDA, a cheery volunteer explained, works closely with local schools for children with disabilities and special needs. Each week, the school selects which young pupils will have the chance to visit the Equestrian centre to interact with the horses and have a therapeutic riding session. The visits aren’t just great for the child’s fitness and confidence, but also challenges their fine motor skills with tasks such as collecting toys and dropping them into marked buckets while navigating between the cones. Some children love the challenges, and others are just happy to feel the sway of the horse as they are led around the course.
As the first minibus pulled up outside, the volunteers sprung into action, ready to greet the arrivals and begin fitting riding helmets. The students’ glee was unforgettable. Once they laid eyes on the ponies, their faces lit up as they realised that they were here for their riding lesson.
One by one, the children were dressed and helped up to the saddle. Words of encouragement were given, the reins were taken up, and with a volunteer at each side for safety, they were off around the course.
Background of the Riding for the Disabled Association
The therapeutic benefits of horseback riding have been known for the centuries, with evidence of its use going as far back as ancient Greece. In Europe, the idea of riding to improve balance, muscle tone, confidence and mental health slowly gained traction through the early parts of the 20th century, and dozens of small riding groups sprung up across the continent.
The Riding for the Disabled Association was officially founded in the UK in 1965, as a way to unite and support these smaller organisations. The group, now a registered charity, has been able to facilitate differently-abled riders nationwide, often using specialised equipment such as saddles and reins. Rehabilitation physiotherapists may be involved to develop riding strategies for those with particular special needs. The RDA now encompasses 500 individual riding groups across the UK, as well as groups in 45 other nations (including Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Canada to name a few).
The Aberdeen group of the RDA is one of the oldest in Scotland, having being founded in the 1970s. Today, they are supported by over 50 volunteers, and meet twice a week with up to 20 children with disabilities from 5 different local schools.
On-site Facilities
Each RDA group operates independently, and so each varies in their facilities – some sessions take place in indoor arenas, some in livery yards and some on outdoor trails.
The Aberdeen group operates from the Tillyoch Equestrian Centre, with access to an indoor riding arena and, when weather permits, nearby trails for riding. There are toilets and a café area on-site with free tea, coffee and biscuits for volunteers. The ponies are housed in a livery yard nearby, and are transported by float on the mornings of the rides.
Volunteer Roles
The RDA takes on volunteers from all backgrounds. No previous skills or equine experience is required to join the group, although you will need to have a reasonable level of physical fitness. All volunteers receive full training, and some may go on to do further certifications, such as first aid.
Volunteers tend to share the work load at each session, all chipping in to help set-up the arena, prepare the horses, support the disabled riders, and tidy up afterwards. Volunteers are also needed to assist with fundraising, administration, horse handling and husbandry, so prior skills and interests can often be accommodated. Get in touch with your local branch to find out how your skills and experience can be incorporated into a volunteering role
Want to hear first-hand what it’s like to be a volunteer at the RDA? Check out my interview with the RDA volunteers at the Aberdeen group.
Practical Information
Accommodation
As this is not a full-time volunteering role, volunteers cannot stay on-site and would need to arrange their own accommodation and transport to the regular meetings.
Working Hours
Working days and hours vary between groups. Sessions are tailored to times that best suit the participants and volunteers, which may be on a weekday, evening or weekend. Most groups hold sessions at least once or twice per week, but some operate seasonally depending on the facilities available.
The Aberdeen RDA currently runs session twice per week, on a Tuesday and Friday morning during school term time. Volunteers choose whether to attend on a Tuesday or Friday, for a 3hr session. Volunteers may also be encouraged to attend events outside of this time, for example to attend training events or intermittent fundraising activities.
Location – Getting to the Charity
Instructions for finding each RDA group are best found on their websites.
Aberdeen RDA currently operates from Tillyoch Equestrian Centre, just west of Aberdeen. It’s approximately a 15 minute drive from the city centre.
Further Information
If you’d like to know more about Riding for the Disabled Association, you can find links to the website of your local UK group here. You can also find out more about their international arms on the following website- RDA Australia, CanTRA Canada and the New Zealand RDA.
If you’re based in Aberdeen and interested in joining, check out the Aberdeen RDA website, or get in touch with the manager by sending an email to info@aberdeenrda.com.
Want to hear what its really like to become a volunteer at the RDA? Read the interview with the Aberdeen RDA team here, where they share their favourite things about their volunteering experience.
Discover over volunteering opportunities for animal lovers on the Volunteer Page.
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