Chair’s Report Breadalbane & District Riding for the Disabled
a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation : Scottish Charity No. SC047991 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Monday 17[th] November 2025
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Our Riders: both our summer & autumn terms have seen the maximum capacity of riders participate in each of the 3 sessions – a total of 12 riders during the morning, with an occasional extra rider sharing a session. The riders have coped with a variety of weather conditions during both terms without letting it affect their enthusiasm for attending. Several new riders have joined us this year and we now recruit from Dunkeld, Logierait, Pitlochry, Blair Atholl, Grandtully and Aberfeldy schools. The feedback from school staff and parents has been very heartening; we are told that for some of the pupils the riding session is the only time they seem to be truly happy and relaxed or display really positive behaviour. Physical improvements are also evident for some children and all have made progress with their riding skills. An increase in the numbers of children selected by their schools for social and emotional support needs, as opposed, for example, to physical disabilities, has been noted and coaches and volunteers have had to adapt their care of the children to accommodate this. One or two new activities and new approaches to the riding exercises have helped to keep sessions varied and interesting and provide progression routes for more established riders. The use of the RDA Proficiency Tests/Achievement levels have encouraged riders to work on their riding skills and pony knowledge and certificates were awarded at the close of the summer term. Coaches are careful to allow all riders to progress at their own pace and address individual needs along the way. Ensuring all the children feel safe, enjoy their riding and have fun whilst learning are essential elements to every session. Allowing time to enjoy the close proximity of the ponies after riding is also beneficial for the children. The end of term games were a great way to consolidate the riders’ learning and all children received a rosette to reward their achievements.
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Our Ponies & Facilities: We were hugely relieved to gain a fourth pony again this year, entirely due to the generosity of the owners of Sakela, who transport their beautiful Haflinger mare to the yard. Her size (15.1hh), strength and temperament ensure she is an excellent mount for our riders, especially for some of our older/heavier children. The three ponies at Knockdarroch continue to provide us with a reliable and much-loved equine team. We are very aware of the age of the ponies and can only hope that their fitness and availability remain for next year’s riding. Sourcing suitable equines in sufficient numbers is also a challenge for many RDA groups around the UK. The riding arena and yard facilities and the site for our storage shed at Knockdarroch have remained available to us and we are indebted to the owner.
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Our Volunteers : our committed and hardworking volunteers are just as essential as the ponies, although they do eat more cake! We were delighted to welcome 4 new volunteers this year and they have all proved to be invaluable to ensuring we can deliver safe and enjoyable riding sessions. Each week can bring new challenges and the teamwork, skills and commitment ensure these are overcome. Training sessions in the Spring, and ongoing training during the weekly sessions, ensure we keep our skills and knowledge up to date. Two of our coaches had their one and three year assessments in the autumn term and passed with flying colours. The coaches work together to assess the pupils, create session plans and allocate volunteers to the weekly rota. All the coaches attended the regional group’s annual gathering and training session in March, an invaluable event for standard setting, problem solving, legal and health and safety compliance. Our Secretary and Treasurer do all the essential work required to manage the group and comply with Scottish Charity law. The Board of Trustees meet regularly and share many of
the tasks essential to keeping the group financially viable and compliant. The Board will be losing at least two members at the AGM this year – their many years of commitment to the group have been highly valued and will be very much missed – and new trustees will be eagerly welcomed. All volunteers in the group, whatever their role, give their time and energies willingly and have created a friendly and rewarding working environment. We are always ready to welcome more volunteers and our ongoing recruitment endeavours will continue next year.
- Fundraising and Publicity: our three main fundraising events of the year – The Thrift Shop, Aberfeldy Show & Games and the Pitlochry Games – were very successful, both financially and for awareness raising for the group’s services. However, as the accounts reflect, our annual operating costs are not quite covered by the income from these events, which is a concern. Our current financial position is strong due to a healthy reserve, accumulated mainly from the generous donations from previous years and prudent expenditure. The Board is aware that this position could change rapidly and is working on the development of new sources of funding and improving the income on existing events. Our Treasurer sourced a mobile card reader to facilitate payments at fund raising events and it has already proved a real asset. A great deal of time and effort is required to make a success of the fundraising activities and the Board encourage all volunteers to get involved and help where they can.
My sincere thanks are extended to all our volunteers in whatever capacity for everything they do to keep the group afloat and ensure we fulfil the group’s mission. I have appreciated everyone’s support, enthusiasm and friendship over the year and look forward to next year’s challenges.
Chair – Breadalbane & District Riding for the Disabled 17 Nov 2025
Breadalbane & District Group
Riding for the Disabled Association SCO 47991
Receipts and Payments for the Year ended 31 March 2025
| Note | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts | £.pp | £.pp | |
| Donations | |||
| Coop Dunkeld | N/A | 150.00 | |
| Gift Aid Donor(s) | 1 | 200.00 | 532.00 |
| Giltbyte Limited | N/A | 1,500.00 | |
| Miscellaneous | 2 | 208.45 | N/A |
| Perth Audi | N/A | 150.00 | |
| Pitlochry High School | N/A | 26.93 | |
| Pitlochry Inner Wheel | N/A | 100.00 | |
| Polo/Sweat Shirts | 153.55 | 130.00 | |
| TheDen@Heartlands | 4,620.70 | N/A | |
| Equipment Sold | |||
| Shed & Gazebo | N/A | 350.00 | |
| Fundraising | |||
| Aberfeldy Show | 580.53 | 537.26 | |
| Collection Tins | 98.86 | 40.35 | |
| Miscellaneous | N/A | 25.00 | |
| Pitlochry Games | 201.35 | 462.59 | |
| Thrift Shop | 2,060.37 | N/A | |
| Other Receipts | |||
| Amazon Smile | N/A | 21.41 | |
| Bank Error | N/A | 10.00 | |
| HMRC Charity Repayment Claim | 134.90 | N/A | |
| Interest Received | 3 | 91.02 | N/A |
| Total Receipts | 8,349.73 | 4,035.54 |
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| Note | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payments | £.pp | £.pp | |||
| Fundraising Expenses ( non-charitable ) |
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| Aberfeldy Show | N/A | 35.00 | |||
| Pitlochry Games | 80.00 | 40.00 | |||
| Thrift Shop Room Hire | 160.00 | N/A | |||
| Payments for Charitable Activities | |||||
| Equipment Purchased | |||||
| Children's | 49.84 | 9.48 | |||
| Horses | 152.53 | 75.28 | |||
| Riding School | 111.70 | 302.19 | |||
| Shed & Gazebo | 247.98 | N/A | |||
| Gifts | |||||
| Miscellaneous | N/A | 66.64 | |||
| Owner of Premises | 1,000.00 | 1,000.00 | |||
| Owners of Ponies | 600.00 | 800.00 | |||
| Other Payments | |||||
| Administration | 12.11 | N/A | |||
| Bank Error | N/A | 10.00 | |||
| Christmas Cards | N/A | 26.89 | |||
| Miscellaneous | 4 | 103.14 | 22.44 | ||
| RDA Membership & Insurance | 441.00 | 426.00 | |||
| Polo/Sweat Shirts | 275.76 | N/A | |||
| Training | 542.50 | 80.00 | |||
| Travelling Expenses | N/A | 281.84 | |||
| Governance Costs | |||||
| Independent Examiner | 23.00 | 30.00 | |||
| PVG Fees | N/A | 12.00 | |||
| Room Hire for AGM | 44.00 | 25.00 | |||
| Total Payments | 3,843.56 | 3,242.76 | |||
| Surplus/(deficit) for year | 4,506.17 | 792.78 | |||
| All funds are unrestricted |
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Breadalbane & District Group Riding for the Disabled Association SCO 47991 Statement of Balances for the Year ended 31 March 2025 Note 2024125 £.pp 10,851.80 4.506.17 15,357.97 2023124 £.pp 10,059.02 792.78 10,851.80 Funds Reconciliation Cash at Bank Surpluslldeficit) for year Cash at Bank Current Account £.pp 1.266.95 14.091.02 15.357.97 £.pp 10,851.80 NIA 10,851.80 Instant Access Account Other Assets Equipment for Children Equipment for Horses Equipment for Riding School First Aid Equipment Mats for Shed Mouse-proof storage boxes Shed & Gazebo 626.13 160.73 1.601.43 N/A N/A NIA 3,440.67 626.13 160.73 1.489.73 N/A NIA NIA 3,666.31 All funds are unrestricted Notes to the Accounts l. Donation from single donor. An HMRC Gift Aid claim is permttted in the following tax year. 2. Donations received at Pttlochry Games. from two or8anisations. and in memoria of horse ridtng friend. 3. Interest received on funds deposited in Instant Access Account 4. Hospitality for AGM, Flowers for retirin8 Trustee, & Prizes for Pitlochry Show 5. All funds are held in two bank accounts. There is no reserve account. All cheque or online payments require the signatures/authorisat•on of two out of five signatories appointed by the board. 6. All assets are shown at their historic cost. 7. Assets wiiiten down as asset reached end of usable lrfe 3of3
Indopondont ExAnilner>s Rcport to the Th'ustecB of the Rldlng for Ihe Dlsgbled A55fjciatlon, BreadAII)ane aiid Dlsti'lct fJl"OUPg SCU 47991 I i"epor¢ on tlie acLouiits foi. tlie Lliai'ity lor Ihe year ended 31 March 2025 Respectii'e n'sponslbilities i)f ti"u4lL•L'N xiiil exAiiilnLbr llic cliarity'b trnstec% arc $1011,*1blc t(yi" tlic pi'cpiirntion ut- thc aLcuiinLs in aLcorddncc with the Icrni% ot Ilic Cliaiilicii dnd T14lcC Iiivcsinicnt (Scutlund) Acl 2005 and thc Cl)ariti&8 .4Lcoiint8 (Scoilaiid) Rcgulatioiis 200C?. Tlic cliai'ity trustccs consider that the audit i-equireme.nt of Regulatioii l O( l ) (d) ot" tlic Accounts Rcgulations docs not apply. Tt is iny responsibility to exwiiine the accounts as required under section 44(1) (c) of the Act and to state ivhcther partieular inatters havc comc to my attcntion. Basis of independent exaininer's statement My cxaminatioll is carricd out iii accorddllcc Witli Rcgul¢ltion I l uf the Charities Accounts (Scoiland) Rcgulations 2006. kni examiAiatioii includ&s a rcview of the accouniino rccords kcpt by dic charity and a comparison of thc accounts presentcd with those rccords. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeks explanations from tlie trustees conceming any such matter5. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence diat would be required in an audii and consequently I do not cxpress an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independent examiner's statement In the coursc of my exiunintltion, no matter h( COMC to my 41ttcntion . which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements= To keep accounting records in accordance with Section 44{1) (a) of the 2005 Act and Rcgulation 4 of thc 2006 Accounts Regulations, and To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and cornply with Regulation 9 of die 2006 Accounts Regulations havc not bccn rnct, or 2. to which, in my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understandin£ uf thc aLLounts to be reached.