The last year since our last AGM seems to have gone by in a flash.
Although we did end the financial year (April 23-March 24) in the black, the group, along with the rest of the country, have felt the effects of the rising cost of living and the committee felt we were no longer able to keep riding session charges the same. This July we increased our fees for the first time since January 2020.
- Horses
At the last AGM I said we were hoping to stay as a happy family of 5 for a while but in May we found Star.
Star has settled in well and piled on the pounds since she has been with us, so much that she needed an extra wide saddle when fitted recently.
But the herd of 6 will sadly becoming a 5 next week. Robbie has been with us for 2 years and on paper he is everything we wanted in an RDA horse but the reality is that he isn’t suited to our work and as a result is hardly used by our riders and so we have come to the decision as a committee to send Robbie off to pastures new where he will be well loved and hopefully much happier. We know he will be missed by the riders and volunteers but this is the best for Robbie.
Penny, Tia, Toby, Artie and Star will be our family of 5 for now…. In the coming year we will have to do some fundraising for a new horse and the up keep of our herd.
- Riders
We currently have 36 riders enjoying either weekly or fortnightly lessons over our 6 weekend riding sessions.
We still have a huge demand for lessons with our waiting list still constantly sitting at around 10-15 riders. We are always trying to take riders off the waiting list and fill any riding spaces but the waiting list still stays the same with new riders being added as quickly as we take them off.
We continue to offer extra sessions to the waiting list (and our regular riders) during the school holidays and they are always well attended.
Harehills primary school have returned again this school year with 12 children coming for non-ridden sensory sessions. They absolutely love coming to see the horses…. But some of the children love running round the arena more!
- Volunteers
As always, without our volunteers none of this is possible. I want to say a huge thank you to each and everyone of our volunteers, we really would be nothing without you all.
Luckily this year we didn’t require as much volunteer manpower to deal with sycamore seedlings, but the ragwort has definitely kept everyone busy!
First aid courses were attended and passed by 10 of our volunteers this June and August. We hope that the skills learnt won’t be needed to be put in to practice but its good to know everyone is in safe hands.
Volunteer Days
Unilever and Novuna have both visited for corporate volunteer days this last year. Both groups worked hard and helped us to do jobs round the yard that just aren’t possible at weekends. With lots of weeds cut back, ragwort pulled, fences and poles painted, and muck heaps moved. We hope the hard work hasn’t put them off and will return again next year.
At last year’s meeting I mentions that I had nominated Vicky for the Extra Mile award at The National RDA Coaching Awards for 2023. Vicky was the very worthy winner of the award, and we are so proud of Vicky and happy that her hard work and dedication to the group was recognised by the national RDA.
- Fundraising
Our annual fundraiser for the year 2023-2024 was our first Sponsored Ride in 5 years. A huge thank you to the Organic Pantry for having us back. It was the first time for our current herd of ponies and the first time for many of our riders and volunteers. It was a wonderful (and very hot) day. £1130 was raised.
A side to our annual fundraisers we have also Star Raffle – raising £190 The 5p collections continue to make us a nice income of over £700 in the last financial year £300 from the lovely golf ladies at Calverly Golf Club £500 from the Parish of Barsdey with East Keswick £400 from Crossgates Methodist Church
The gift of an Inky Dinky saddle has been a brilliant addition to the group, we had previously applied for a grant to buy one of these
saddles, so we were over the moon to receive this donation and it has been well used since it has arrived.
- Grants
The last year has been another year of applying for many more grants that we are awarded. The number of charities applying for these grants can be in the thousands as we all fight for the same pot of money. The grant applications are time consuming and sometimes complicated to complete but we must continue to do so. Grants we received in 2023-2024 included -
£2000 from Greene Kings Proud to Pitch In towards the purchase of a new horse
£1500 from the Parish of Barsdey with East Keswick towards hay and sponsoring a pony
£1500 from Sir George Martin Trust for the purchase of hay.
- As we look to the year ahead…..
As I said last year (and will no doubt say again next), we are always looking for people to join the committee and be more involved in the running of the group. I am very aware of the time the trustees and committee members give up ensuring the running of the group in addition to the running of the riding sessions.
If there is anyone who would be interested in helping with grant applications or organising fundraising events or if you want to know more about what the committee does, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me or someone who can point you in my direction.
Thank you to everyone who has joined us tonight for your ongoing support.
Here is hoping the coming year is another successful one as we carry on providing riding therapy to as many participants as we can reach.
Leeds Area Riding for the Dlsabled 1.179.17 1,787.fy) 1&1X) Tao *lih a Ptyv $56.17 151.10 Puy O•y Iwx 13245.C Sths cl & Txk TOTIL IA4& 1.731.40 1.180.n 217.97 41.88 TJ 97 NEf IPK(AE
Leeds Area Rlding for Ihe Disabled AJl 31. 24 Cash Ai tr 8r>Jkntr¥J 22751.18 £•U41.18 AccpJ&l -. u*aOV 22 Ym tsifiJ411IKJ 1P.
Independ¢nrex•mln•rfs wop¢xttoth•trust••s ROA I report to the trustees on my examlnathn of the a¢countsof the Leeds Area RDA {the Trust) fortht ye¥r ended 31 March 2024. As tht charltytrustees of the Trust are responsible forthe pParath ofthe accounts In attordaTr the requlrements of the Charltles Act 20111'the Arfl. I report In respert of my exzmlnotkn of the Twsvs accounts carrled out under sectlon 145 of the 2011 Art and In (arryln8 Out my examlnatlon I have followed all the applTrble DirÈrtiMs Blven bythe Charfty Commlsslon under sertlon 14515)Ibl of the Act. Ind•pendent txamlnerfs sl•ttm•rt I ha¥e completed my examination. I confim thai no material matters have corne to my attention In wnnertitin wlth the examlnatlon 8l¥ing me cause to belleve that in any materlal respect ac¢ountlng records were not kept In respert of the Trust as required by sertion 130 of the Art: I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in cmrtertn with the examlnion to which attentk)n Should be drawn In thts report in orderto enable a proper undefStandln8 of the accaunts to be reathed. Slgned: ryc%tri Name: Helen Simpson Address: 78 Brow Lane, aayton. Brndford BD14 6PT Date: 22-IC.-2Lt