Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) launches Winter Appeal for donations to help tackle rising costs

RIDING for the Disabled Association (RDA) has launched a winter appeal for donations to help them continue to provide services to disabled people across the UK.

The charity, which has two groups in Moray, supports thousands of disabled children and adults across the country.

However, with many groups reporting financial difficulties as a result of the rising costs of fuel, feed and electricity, the charity are appealing for volunteers to help them fund raise.

Sarah Healing from Penniwells RDA Group is concerned about the groups future. She said: “Whilst we are a very determined group the outlook over the coming winter for Penniwells RDA is worrying – with the cost of living forever rising, going forward we are worried about how we will survive.”

The charity have said that the financial difficulties mean some groups have had to cancel sessions, particularly in evenings when the cost of the lights for indoor arenas has become unaffordable.

The group have said that donations from the public can provide help with rising costs over winter such as fuel, electricity and supplies and the increasing cost of caring for horses, or help to provide volunteer training and other education programmes.

RDA UK Chair of Trustees, Rachel Medill MBE said: “It’s such a difficult time for so many of us financially at the moment, but if there is anyone out there who feels that they can make a donation to support RDA at this really difficult time, I want people to know that any gift, small or large will make a real difference. We make every penny count”.

Those wishing to donate to the RDA's winter appeal can do so online here, or by donating a gift to their local RDA group such as a bag of feed or a winter rug.

Any donation will allow RDA to make a difference to the lives of participants.