Dear RDA UK volunteers and staff,

I hope you managed to tune in to watch some of the RDA Virtual National Championships last weekend. I just want to say how impressed I was with it all and what a fantastic job all those involved did. 

If you didn’t catch it, you can watch it on our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/RDANational

 

Job Opening: Regional Coordinator – Yorkshire and Cleveland

We currently have a job opening for a Regional Coordinator in Yorkshire and Cleveland. The role involves stimulating growth in participant numbers in RDA activities in the Yorkshire and Cleveland region. 

The role is a fixed term contract until the 30 April 2023 and will be predominantly home-based/remote working with frequent travel in the region, and occasional attendance at RDA National Office in Warwickshire. 

Closing Date: 9am 11th October 2021.

For a full job description and how to apply, follow this link: https://www.rda.org.uk/join-the-rda-uk-team/

 

Virtual National Championships – Presented by Oliver Wight EAME LLP

Last weekend marked our first ever Virtual National Championships. I hope you managed to tune in to see it or snippets of it. The event attracted viewers from all over, even as far as Australia! It was livestreamed on our website, Facebook and YouTube - we had over 4000 views on YouTube alone.  The Virtual National Championships not only enabled more riders to get involved, but also encouraged more visitors too. We received lots of enquiries on social media about how to get involved and finding their local groups.

For the full low-down of the event, including the Commentators Choice Award and list of winners, follow this link: https://www.rda.org.uk/news_cpt/thousands-tune-in-to-virtual-rda-championships/

 

National Sporting Heritage Day

A reminder that tomorrow is National Sporting Heritage Day. We will be sharing stories from our archives of women pioneers in RDA, and we encourage you to also share either of your own RDA experience or an RDA woman who inspired you. Post your stories online on tomorrow using #NSHD2021

This is a great opportunity to introduce our Heritage Champion Volunteer Rochelle Blakeman, who from now will be developing plan to help us preserve and share our heritage. You will hear from her in our social media post today and in the future regarding our heritage project. Rochelle says the National Sporting Heritage Day is the “…perfect opportunity to introduce RDA’s plans to preserve, share and celebrate our heritage as pioneers of disability sport since 1969…. Featuring blog posts, audio and visual content, we will showcase the people, events and stories which still resonate with our mission today. Watch this space and follow our social media pages for the heritage stories to come! If you have your own RDA story from the past to share, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us!”

 

Volunteer Vacancy: Publicity Officer – West Mercia Region

The West Mercia Region are looking for a Regional Publicity Officer, if you or anyone you know would like to fill this vital role please take a look at the advert here https://www.myrda.org.uk/assets/West_Mercia_RPO.pdf. If you are interested on would like more information, please contact Faye McKenning 01926 405966 fmckenning@rda.org.uk

 

Volunteer Vacancy: Country Chair – Hampshire 

The County Chair is a voluntary position providing support and management of local groups in the Hampshire County.

This is an excellent opportunity to work closely with the Regional team, engage your leadership skills and get involved with RDA beyond your local group. We are looking for a professional with managerial experience who is reliable, warm and empathetic with the ability to motivate others.

Please contact Frances Lochrane, South Regional Chair, to discuss the opportunity further (flochrane@btinternet.com/07798 941229)

 

BEF Training for Classifiers

The BEF are running training for their classifiers on the weekend of 6 & 7 November and are looking for RDA participants to attend to show the Trainee Classifiers different classification grades. They need a mixture of neurological impairments – e.g. Cerebral Palsy, Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, traumatic/acquired brain injury and musculo-skeletal impairments – e.g. amputee, short limb (arm or leg), arthrogryposis, spinal cord injury, spina bifida etc. The training will take place at the BEF building in Stareton, Warwickshire and will be classroom based. Travel and lunch will be covered. Please share with your network and for more information, please contact Emma Baylissebayliss@rda.org.uk

 

Green Cards

Faye McKenning has asked me to remind Groups that we no longer need to receive Green Cards. These should be kept safely with a Group.

 

Hand Sanitiser

A reminder from Helen Kallow that there are still boxes of hand sanitiser, donated by Farm & Stable, available. Please contact Helen onhkallow@rda.org.uk with the email subject ‘hand sanitiser’.

 

Best Wishes,

Brigitta Falcini

Communications Coordinator

Riding for the Disabled Association

01926 405964