How do I get Involved?
Volunteering is a great way to meet people, make new friends, gain experience and can help you grow in confidence, as well as giving you the opportunity to learn new skills and at the same time give something back to the community. Volunteering with RDA makes a difference to the lives of others and it’s great for your health and well-being too. We welcome volunteers of 12 years and over, there is no upper age limit.
Our centre is completely reliant on our amazing team of volunteers. Not only do they help look after our horses' welfare and assist with riding and driving lessons they are also instrumental in raising awareness of the work of RDA and in raising valuable funds to help us continue our work.
We are known for our friendly, relaxed family atmosphere and always welcome new volunteers. The majority of our volunteers assist with horse care and the provision of riding and driving sessions, but it’s not just about horses and ponies – there are plenty of other jobs that need to get done in areas such as fundraising; general office admin; grounds maintenance; and cycle maintenance (essential to support our carriage driving activities).
Want to know more? Then you might like to read Volunteering with RDA: Horses, Health and Happiness.
If you are interested and have any questions please contact us via email or simply complete our volunteer application form (also available in PDF format ) and return it to office@rdawoodbridge.org.uk.
Note: to fill-out the PDF volunteer application form electronically, open it using Adobe Acrobat Reader and click the Fill & Sign tool in the right-hand pane.
Duke of Edinburgh Award Volunteering
If you have equestrian experience you can complete your D of E Silver or Gold Award volunteering requirement by volunteering with us, please contact us via email for more details and availability of places. Anyone under the age of 18 will need a parent or guardian's consent.
Riding and Driving Coaches
We would also love to talk to potential volunteers who are interested in training as coaches. Previous equestrian experience does help, but in-house training is provided free of charge and there are many supportive members of the RDA team to help you achieve your coaching goals. With more coaches we can offer more sessions.
Trustees
Our Trustees are all volunteers and are essential to the running of the Group and planning for its future. We are looking for Trustees with experience in any of the following areas:
• Horse Care / Stable Management / Running an Equine Business
• Charity Fundraising / PR / Engagement / Donor & Sponsor Relationship Management
• Finance / Accounting / Bookkeeping
• Human Resources / People Management
• Business Management / Charity Governance
Interested? Please email us and tell us what attracts you to this type of work and to our Group in particular and what you can offer the organisation. If you would like an informal discussion about a potential trustee role then please contact us and we can agree a mutually convenient time for a call or a visit to The Bays.
Corporate Volunteering Days
Many companies encourage their employees to support charities by volunteering their time and effort for a day. It is the chance to give something back to the local community and to do something very different from their normal day job. If you are interested, please click here for more details.
