Volunteering
We are always looking for suitable volunteers to help with our sessions which are held each Monday and Friday, (term time only) and Saturday mornings.
Before the lessons start, we need help with grooming and tacking up the horses and setting up the arena so we ask our volunteers to arrive at around 8.45am.
After the lessons have finished we need help to untack and put the horses to bed, and pack the equipment away so we’re usually ready to leave by 1pm.
Advantages of becoming an RDA volunteer:
-Looks great on your CV.
-Learning new skills.
-Meeting new people.
-Satisfaction from helping individuals improve their quality of life.
-Being around horses is very therapeutic.
-It’s a good form of exercise.
Please see below some of our most frequently asked questions.
Do I need any previous experience with horses or people living with a disability?
No experience is needed as we offer full training and support from day one.
I don’t have any knowledge about horses. Does this mean I cannot help?
No it doesn’t! We will teach you everything you need to know. No previous experience is needed.
Is there an age restriction to volunteering with the R.D.A?
There is no upper age limit, as long as you are reasonably fit but there is a minimum age limit of 12 years for helping in the sessions, however we may be able to work something out for joining our fundraising team.
Is there any paper work when joining the group?
We try to keep paperwork to a minimum but you will need to fill in a volunteer application form and provide 2 referees. You will also be required to complete a DBS Check (formerly Criminal Records Check or CRB) as you will be working with vulnerable children and adults. New volunteers are given a four weeks trial period during which time they will be given a ‘Green Card’ to be completed by the volunteer and a coach upon completion of the basic training which is a requirement for all RDA Groups.
As a volunteer will I be able to ride the horses?
Unfortunately due to insurance purposes we cannot allow any of our volunteers to ride the horses.
What happens if I can’t guarantee I will be able to help out all the time?
That is totally fine! Your help will always be appreciated whenever you are available to help and we will always look forward to seeing you, we just ask if you can let us know if you are unable to attend.
I cannot get to you until after you have started in the morning. Is that OK?
Of course, we understand many people have to do the school run in the morning or have other responsibilities first thing.
I have a question that doesn’t appear to be answered on the website?
If you have a question we haven’t answered please don’t hesitate to contact us and one of our team will be happy to help.
We look forward to having you on our team so why not pop along to one of our sessions to see what we do and meet the team? Alternatively, you can contact us for more information.
We also understand that not everyone is able to help out in the sessions due to work commitments etc. but you can still get involved as we need a team of like-minded, enthusiastic people to help us raise the funds we need to continue our work. Whether it’s to help out at any of our events or come up with new fundraising ideas, we would appreciate any time you can spare so please get in touch.