The Caring Caretaker – 2007 Collections

Davey continued his fundraising throughout 2007, ending with a total in excess of £36,000, to be shared between the following four Charities:

Multiple Sclerosis (Coleraine Branch)

The Zomba Appeal

TheAutism Society (NI) - North Coast Branch and

The Riding for the Disabled Association (Coleraine & District Group).

Cheques were presented at a special ceremony (located in, and kindly sponsored by The Lodge Hotel, Coleraine) on Monday evening, 4th February 2008, and each of the beneficiaries passed on their thanks to Davey, and recorded their appreciation of his efforts.

For further information contact Davey Boyle at Coleraine Town Hall.

Equestrian & Fun Day for RDA

Saturday, 25^th November, saw an exciting event planned to raise funds in support of the RDA (Coleraine Group). Due to the inclement weather forecast, the event was belatedly transferred from The Isle, Macosquin, to Moneydig Equestrian Centre (kindly granted by John Stewart). As a result, activities were a little slow to get going, and initially a Clown entertained the children & adults in the Clubroom. By the end of the day all agreed that had an enjoyable time.

The event was organised by Karen Houston and her team from The Isle Livery & Riding Centre, and strongly supported by friends and local businesses with donations of food and items for prizes. Leslie Cole, RDA Chairman, thanked Karen and their team for their hard work, and John Stewart for making the Moneydig Centre available at short notice. He said double thanks were needed for the organising team, due to the forced move due to the weather. Leslie said that Events such as this, and donations were greatly appreciated, and that all monies raised in support of the RDA went directly to the benefit of Disabled Riders – all helpers were Volunteers, receiving no payment, and their work had led to the recent presentation of the Queens Award for Voluntary Service, one of only three in Northern Ireland in 2006.

Equestrian activities were very efficiently co-ordinated by Fiona Watt (of The Clothes Horse), and included Jumping, Tack and Turn-out, and Dressage Events, interspersed by an energetic display by two minature ponies with road carts.

The results were as follows ;

Jumping Novice

1^st (joint) Paige Watt & Kathy Clawson - Mizzy

2^nd Justin - Corscadden

3^rd Jade Warwick - Poppy

Tack & Turnout

1^st Louise Greer - Dolly

2^nd Justin Corscadden - Shadow

3^rd Paige Watt – Sasha

Dressage

Vicky Houston - Dolly

Donna Kitchener - Swift

Justin Corscadden - Shadow

Paige Watt – Sasha

Louise Greer – Dolly

(This was a new Event to all participants, and all were awarded prizes)

Can you fill this Space?

The Aim was to draw attention to the valuable work undertaken by the Group, and to highlight the need for additional helpers.

In effect, about 100 disabled persons each week attend the RDA Arena at Castleroe Road, Coleraine. (If we are to believe a recent TV advertising Campaign on Disability, which stated that 20% of the population have some disability, then we have a much greater market with needs waiting to be met).

As it is, the Group sometimes struggles to adequately deal with those disabled who already attend - WHY? - not because of desire, BUT because we can never have enough helpers!

Therefore, we are appealing to anyone with an interest in helping disabled persons, or in equestrian matters, to volunteer, and make a committment to give a specific time each week to help at the RDA Arena. There are five Riding Sessions each week, - mornings 10.00 am- Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, and evenings - 7.00 pm -Tuesday & Wednesday - but you don't have to come every day - ONE SESSION each week would be greatly appreciated.

Contact The Secretary, 07801 533 501, or just come to the Session that suits you best, and ask to speak to the Instructor.

Open Day & Presentation, 2006

The Queen’s Award - A First in Co Londonderry for Riding for the Disabled

Speaking at the RDA Open day at Castleroe on Saturday, 21^st October, Mr Denis Desmond, Lord Lieutenant for Co Londonderry, said that the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, which he presented to Leslie Cole, Group Chairman, was the first for Co Londonderry, and one of only three awarded in Northern Ireland in 2006 – a total of 103 had been awarded in the UK – demonstrating the prestigious nature of the award..

Mr Desmond said that as part of the assessment process he had visited the Group in January, and had been impressed by three things – the enthusiasm of the volunteers, the benefit to the riders in relation to their physical and mental well-being as reported by a School Principal he had interviewed, and the evident enjoyment of the riders involved, seen again at the riding display he had witnessed earlier in the afternoon.

The Group Chairman, Leslie Cole, welcomed nearly 100 parents and friends and guests to the RDA Open Day & Presentation, especially Mrs Phyllis Fielding, Deputy Mayor of Coleraine, a number of other Councillors, Mrs Jill Lindsay, RDA Regional Chairman. He gave a special welcome to Mrs Lily Lee & Mrs Ann Millar, family of the late Mr Cyril Lee, founder member and strong supporter of the RDA, and without whom the Queen’s Award would not have been possible.

The Chairman thanked the many members who had worked so hard to prepare for the Open day, - the Instructors for the training of the many riders, the preparation of the premises and the horses, the kitchen staff for the refreshments, and most important, the riders for the magnificent display the had mounted.

The display had consisted of individual dressage demonstrations by the riders who had achieved significant successes in June at the NI RDA Regional Event, assisted by Billy Bones & Willy Wilson, a demonstration of a typical training exercise by six riders & helpers under the instruction of Vicky Sim, assisted by Brian Connor, and an inter-group competition between teams of three, run off in heats, supervised by Christine Hankin & Eric Traylor.

Mrs Phyllis Fielding, Deputy Mayor of Coleraine, congratulated the Group on their award, which she said was well deserved, wished them well for in the development for their proposed new facilities, and assured the Group of ongoing Council support. She thanked the riders and helpers for their wonderful display and presented each participants with a medal as a memento of the occasion.

Activities at the Riding for the Disabled Association at the Cyril Lee Arena at Castleroe consists of FIVE sessions weekly, Tuesday & Wednesday Evenings (7.00pm) and Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday morning (10.00am).

Persons interested in acting as NEW HELPERS or INSTRUCTORS are also invited to contact the RDA. Even if you have no previous experience with Disabled Persons or with Horses, do not worry, as you will be given the appropriate guidance and supervised training from the beginning. For further Information, contact The Secretary on 078 0153 3501, or phone the Arena on 028 7032 0147, or simply come to the Arena at the appropriate time.

Queens Award for Coleraine RDA

Coleraine-based volunteering group, COLERAINE & DISTRICT GROUP OF THE RIDING FOR THE DISABLED ASSOCIATION have been chosen as a winner of this year's prestigious Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, which gives recognition to the unsung heroes in our communities that play an essential role in our daily lives.

The Coleraine & District Group of the Riding for the Disabled Association is affiliated to the National Association, which operates throughout the UK, and which oversees operating standards.

The group provides horse-riding opportunities for disabled persons, from the whole Causeway Coast Area. The process involves the use of horses – in groups not exceeding six – with a leader and side-walkers for each horse, depending on the experience of the Rider. All members of the Group are volunteers, receiving no recompense. The Group works with both physically disabled and persons with Learning Difficulties.

This voluntary group is one of only 104 organisations to win an Award across the UK this year, of whom only three were in Northern Ireland.

All winners have been nominated by members of the public who have either benefited from their work, or seen the positive effect on their community. The Award is only given to those groups where volunteers are judged to have regularly devoted their time to providing an outstanding level of help to other people.

Ed Miliband, Minister for the Third Sector, said:

“I congratulate the winners of the Queen's Award and pay tribute to the brilliant work they do. Throughout our country, in every walk of life, they make a huge contribution to social cohesion, community renewal and social justice.

"These groups show us how much can be achieved when people join together to make a difference. They bind communities, and help the most vulnerable people. They are an example to us all.”

Speaking on behalf of the Group, Albert Clyde, Group Secretary, said

“We are highly honoured to receive this Award. It is recognition of the dedication and service of countless volunteers over the past 30 years. Currently, there are around 50 Volunteers who attend the RDA arena each week, and provide an equestrian service which is both recreational and therapeutic to about 100 disabled persons. In addition the Group is in the process on providing a new Centre at Castleroe, which will provide a state of the art Multi-Sports Centre, and referral service for disabled persons throughout the area.”

If you know a volunteering group that are really making a difference to your community, then nomination forms for thenext Queen's Award for Voluntary Service are available from www.queensawardvoluntay@.gov.uk or by calling 0845 000 2002. The nomination period runs until 30^th September each year.