June 2, 2006
Queens Award for Coleraine RDA
 Everyone
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 30th September each year.
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