WEST LOTHIAN RIDING FOR THE DISABLED
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED
31ST MARCH 2025
Charity Number SC049451
WEST LOTHIAN
GROUP
RDA
It's what you can
do that counts

Contents
Page
Trustee Report
Independent examiners report to the trustees
Statement of Receipts and Payments
Cash and Bank Balances
Notes to the Accounts
10

W8St Lothlan Rldlng forthe Dlsabled
Trustees Annual Report
Year Ended 31" MarGh 2025
The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year
sl
ended 31 March 2025.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered charity name
West Lothian Riding for The Disabled
Charity registration number
SC049451
Prlnclpal address
37 Springfield Lea
South Queensferry
Edinburgh
EH30 9XD
THE TRUSTEES
The trustees who served the charity during the period
Trustee:
Retlred Trustee:
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The Group was registered as a charlty from 20 November 1998 and is governed by its written
th
constitution. On 17 July 2019 the charlty incorporated to a Scottish Charitable Incorporated
Organisation (SCIO).
The Board shall have control of the organisation, its property, and funds. When complet8 the b08rd
shall consist of at least 3 and not more than 11 individuals, all of whom must b8 members of the
organisation. The Board sh211 be composed of the following members.. Chairperson, Treasurer, and
Secretary. The Board or the members May appoint new trustees from individuals they belleve have
the necessary skills and experience lo benefit the charity.
All of the trustees shall retire at each AGM but shall be eligible for re-election.
West Lothian RDA
Tru8tea Annual Report
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West Lothlan Rldlngfor the Dlsabled
Trustees Annual Report
Year Ended 31$t March 2025
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The trustees review the aims, objectives and activities of the charitable group regularly.
The trustees have referred to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when
reviewing the charity's aim and objeGtives and in the planning it future activities. In particular, the
trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been
set.
Our Vlsion
To enhance the lives of disabled individuals through accessible horse riding opportunities.
Our Purpose
To support and deliver the objectives of the Riding for the Disabled Association Incorporating
Carriage Driving by offering riding experiences that promote physical, emotional, and social well-
being for people with disabilities across West Lothian, Falkirk, and the City of Edinburgh.
Values
Inclusion - We believe everyone should have access to life-enriching activities, regardless
of ability.
Compassion - We provide a supportive and understanding environment for all participants.
Empowerment- We strive to build confidence and independence through equine-assisted
activities.
Community- We work together to create a welcoming space for riders, volunteers, and
families.
Well-being - We are committed to improving health and happiness through therapeutic
engagement with horses.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
We ran a full season of riding sessions in 2024- 2025 which raised £15,732 between April and
October 2024. This was a slight decrease of £250 compared to the previous year. This was due to
adverse weather and refunding for cancellation of sessions.
We ran 10 sessions a week split between bNo sessions on a Monday, Wednesday & Thursday
evenings and four sessions on Saturday mornings giving us a capacity of 1,308 participant
sessions.
We had 102 registered volunteers including 2 volunteer coaches helping us throughout the season
to deliver our service. 390/0 of our volunteers were 18 or under. 36 of our volunteers were new to
the group.
We had 50 regular weekly participants of varying ages and abilities and whilst some are capable of
riding independently a number require more input and are totally dependent on our helpers and
leaders. 76°/0 of our participants were 18 or under. We welcomed 7 new participants for the season
who were all under 18. As of March 2025, we had 18 participants on our waiting list.
For our participants, we offered horse riding, horse care, proficiency tests and endeavour
awards. For our younger volunteers, we supported their Duke of Edinburgh Volunteering
experience and Saltire awards.
We had 9 equines, who are all owned by the group, available for our participants.
West Lothian RDA
Trustee Annual Report
Page14

West Lothian Ridlng for the Disabled
Trustees Annual Report
Year Ended 31" March 2025
We were successful in Grant applications with a total of £24,909 from various organisations:
Turcan and Conan
W M Mann Foundation
Spifox
£3,000
£1,250
£20,659 (ring fenced to build new feed hut)
Our Just Giving campaign pages have continues to help us fundraise through the year, especially
over the winter months when we generate no income.
We have our usual outgoing expenditure for feed, vet bills and farrier. All these going are essential
for the health of our horses. We purchased a new horse Libby to join the herd in 2024; this was to
replace Tornak who sadly passed away in 2023.
Our other outgoing expenditure is in the form of establishment costs, land rent, maintenance of club
house and replacement of our feed hut.
We have had great support from Tesco maintenance, who have maintained our entrance track
which needs constant attention, build a new robust mounting ramp to support our participants to get
on and off our horses.
Assessing the impact of our service is vital and at the end of the 2024 season we surveyed our
participants, and their families who were active during the season, along with our volunteers on
many aspects of being part of West Lothian RDA.
There were 29 responses in total to the participant survey and 47 to the volunteer. This is an
increase in responses of 58 % and 55 % respectively.
We asked the participants if their RDA sessions have helped them to learn something new.
Do you think your sessions at RDA have helped you to learn something new?
29 responses
•Yes
•No
• Not Suie
17.2%
82.8%
We asked participants to tell us a bit more about what they'd learned or how their sessions had
benefitted them:
A lot of participants said that their therapeutic riding sessions had 8 positive effect on their
wellbeing, including helping them feel more relaxed and more confident.
West Lothian RDA
Trustee Annual Report
Page15

West Lothian Riding for the Disabled
Trustees Annual Report
Year Ended 31°, March 2025
Sirnilarly, a lot of participants felt that their sessions had helped them develop other skills
that are beneficial in other areas of life, such as listening and following instructions. staying
calm, waiting, being independent and communicating with strangers.
The sessions also had a physical benefit for participants, such as helping with coordination,
balance and being more aware of their body position and muscle movements. One
participant noted that their sessions were the only way to help their muscles that they had
found that worked for them.
Many of our participants said they had learned more about horses, including horse care and
tacking up. They also said they had enjoyed learning to trot. These are some of the topics
that participants wanted to learn more about in last year's survey.
We asked our volunteers to tell us about the impact of volunteering. The responses to this question
were overwhelmingly positive. Our volunteers told us that volunteering with us had a really positive
impact on them across so many different areas of their life..
Helped improve their confidence and helped them develop new skills or improve existing
ones, such as their communication skills, time management and team working.
Being outdoors and exercising improves their health, fitness and general well-being
A number of volunteers appreciated that RDA gave them the opportunity to work and make
friends with people of all ages and backgrounds. It expanded their friendship groups or
helped them to feel more comfortable talking to new people
Helps them to 'switch-off' after a busy day job and focus on something positive, or gives
them a routine
Has helped them to learn lots about horses, and feel more confident in handling or caring for
them
We also asked our volunteers if volunteering had helped them learn something new.
Do you think volunteering at RDA has helped you to learn something new?
47 response$
•Ye$
•No
• Not Sure
97.9%
We asked our volunteers to tell us a bit more about what they'd learned..
"I have no previous experience of horses and can now catch, groom, tack and lead"
"I learnt how to be more confident and more open with people I don't know"
.1 have learnt a lot about caring for horses who have injurieslhealth issues"
'I've gained a deeper understanding of the therapeutic benefits of horse riding and the
importance of accessibility and inclusion.
Wast Lothian RDA
Trustee Annual Report
Page16

West Lothlan Rldlng for the Dlsabled
Trustees Annual Report
Year Ended 31" March 2025
.1 hav8 learned more aboul horse and how to tack them up. l also now tutor children and my
experience at RDA helped me become a better tutor..
°The impact riding can have on those who fa￿ challenges in their daily lives. Watching the
interaGtion of rider and horse, rider and leader and leader and horse has taught me a lot
about communication and teamwork."
"I hadn't ridden for over 30 years. so I have learned a lot about horses in the last year. This
ranges from horse care, tacking up and horse behaviours. Everyone is willing to share their
experien￿ for you to leam and there's always someone willing to lend a hand if you're not
sure about somethirsg."
°Have learnt the RDA ways with getting the horses ready, which are a bit different to what
I've been used to! I've learnt there's lots of ways to enjoy horses nol just riding and
competing.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The Financial Year 8nding 31" March 2025 has again been a challenging year financially. Our
income (excluding gross trading income), it decreased to £30,480 from £44,736 in 2024.
We have been extremely fortunate to receive donations from parents, friends, local businesses, and
other assoGiations. £3,833. This included £300 from Captains Charities and Lloyds matching
scheme £1,935. Our friends and participants also completed some fantastic fundraising activities
during the year, this included Cycling challenge during January and design, creating and selling
calendars, this generated income of £2,429.
RESERVES POLICY
The trustees airn to mainlain a sufficient level of reserves to facilitate the operations of the charity.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
In the coming year, we aim to:_
Increase the number of session volunteers which will support our objective to reduce the
waiting list and achieve our maximum capacity of 6 participants per session.
Add additional activities for our participants- Show jumping, Countryside Challenge and
ASDAN
Bring in a new pony to increase the range of participants we can support
Continue our program of maintenance
Be successful in various grant funding applications to support our activities
Signed on behalf of the trustees
West Lothian RDA
Trustee Annual Report
Page17

Independent Examlner's Report to the Trustees of West Lothlan Rldlng for the Dlsabled
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31° March 2025 whlch are set out on pages 9 to 11
The CharIt￿S trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the terms of the
Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (the 2005 Act) and the Charities Accounts (Scotland)
Regulations 2006 (as amended). The charity's trustees consider that the audit requirements of Regulation 10(1)(d)
of the Accounts Regulations does not apply. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts as required under
section 44(1){c) of the Act and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT
My examination is carried out in accordance with the Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations
2006 (as amended). An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a
comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or
disclosures in the accounts and seeks explanations from the trustees conceming any such matters. The procedures
undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audil and, consequent5y, I do not express an
audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1 > which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect Ihe requirements:
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 44(1)(a) of the 2005 Act and Regulation 4 of the 2006
Accounts Regulations. and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with Regulation 9 of the 2006
Accounts Regulations
have not been met. or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to
be reached.
West Lothian RDA
Trustee Annual Report
Page18

West Lothlan Riding for the Dlsabled
Trustees Annual Report
Year Ended 3111 March 2025
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total Funds
Total Funds
Receipts
Note
Funds
Funds
2025
2024
Donations
Riding Donations
Donations towards upkeep of
horses
Receipts from fundraising
activities
Grants
Sale of horse saddle and tack
Other income
Receipts from other charitable
activities
Gross trading receipts
Total R8ceipts
Payments
Cost of raising funds
Charitable expenditure
Total Payments
3,833
15,732
3,834
15,732
3.640
16.895
4,105
4,105
2.327
4,250
855
33
2,803
20,659
24,909
855
33
2,803
13,187
8,687
913
32,524
913
53,183
686
45,422
20,659
(216)
33.989
34,205
(216)
56,562
56,777
(216)
44,964
45,180
22,572
22,572
Surplusl(Deficlt) for year
242
Cash & Bank Balances
Year End 31" March 2025
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total Funds
Total Funds
Detalls
Funds
Funds
2025
2024
Cash & bank balances at start of
year
Surplus l (deficit) for the year
22,581
210
22,791
22,500
(3,596)
242
Cash & bank balances at end of
year
210
22,742
The Notes on pages 8 and 9 from an integral part of these accounts.
These financial statements were approved by the members of the committee and authorised for issue
on the
44
and are signed on their behalf by:
West Lothian RDA
Trustee Annual Report
Page19

West Lothian Riding for the Disabled
Trustees Annual Report
Year Ended 31tst March 2025
Basis of Accounting
These accounts have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis in accordance with the
Charities & Trustees Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland)
Regulations 2006 (as amended).
2. Nature and purpose of funds
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees, in
furtheran￿ of the general objectives of the charity, and which have not been designated for other
purposes by donors.
Restricted funds relate to income received with restrictions was used to rebuild the feed hut and to
purchase a container which was currently on a rental agreement. Total Cost of the project £22,572
In 2024 there was a remaining £210 restricted funds for Training cost from the last financial year
3. Trustee's Remuneration and expenses
No trustee received any remuneration or expenses during the current or prior year.
4. Cost of raising funds
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total Funds
Total Funds
Funds
Funds
2025
2024
Just Giving
216
216
216
216
216
216
West Lothian RDA
Trustee Annual Report
Page | 10

West Lothian Riding for the Disabled
Trustees Annual Report
Year Ended 318t March 2025
Payments relating to directly to charitable activitles.
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total Funds
2025
Total Funds
2024
Receipts
Funds
Funds
Rent
Insurance & Fees
Coaching Sessions
Equipment
Vet, Farrier etc expenses
Feed
Establishment costs
Training
Horses
Sundry expenses
Independent Examiners fee
Just Giving
Gross trading payments
Project
4,000
1,454
4,000
1,454
4,000
1,345
239
9,523
4,730
5,325
239
9,523
4.730
5,275
9,889
3,366
2,610
7,000
820
7,000
770
6,106
252
216
686
16,710
216
898
22,572
216
898
22,572
Total Payments
56,777
56,777
44,964
6. Incorporation
On 17 July 2019 the former charity West Lothian & District for the Disabled Association Group
Incorporating Carriage Driving, charity number SC028635, incorporated to A SCIO named West
Lothian Riding for the Disabled, charity number SC049451. The former charity was wound up as
a resLtIt. The charity's beneficiaries, purpose of the funds and trustees have not changed
significantly.
7. The accounts have been reviewed by the independent examiner free of any charge.
West Lothlan RDA
Trustee Annual R8POrt
Page111