Gareloch RDA

05/06/2026

As Volunteers’ Week comes to an end, we’d like to thank our volunteers again for all they do
and will continue to recognise and celebrate their contribution throughout the year.


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04/06/2026

We would not be able to do what we do at Gareloch RDA without volunteers. This week recognises the incredible work and time each and every one puts into supporting us.

For 50 years we have been supporting the local disabled community, through highs and lows. And with our incredible volunteers we are excited to do so for another 50 years.

We have said it everyday this week but to every one of our volunteers, past and present, THANK YOU!

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03/06/2026

It’s half way through volunteer week and if you have been thinking of giving some of your time to a good cause, but aren’t sure what to do, there is a whole range of ways to
Volunteer with RDA!

At Gareloch RDA, which is run completely by volunteers, we can make use of a massive range of skills!

Sidewalking, leading and assisting in sessions. Riding a bike along with our carriage. Administration, fundraising and running the charity. Mucking out and general horse care…. Even undertaking the coaching training to lead sessions as a coach!

No horse experience is needed. In fact some of our incredibly valued volunteers today joined us with no experience and learnt with us!

Contact [email protected] to start your volunteer journey!

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02/06/2026

Let's celebrate 42 years of Volunteers’ Week in the UK!
Join us in honouring the incredible contributions of volunteers who make our communities
stronger every day.

Which Gareloch RDA volunteer do you feel goes over and above?

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01/06/2026

It’s Volunteer Week!

Who is a GRDA volunteer you particularly admire?

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31/05/2026

It’s the end of May and what have we been up to at Gareloch RDA?

We have been running our regular Tea With A Pony (TWAP) sessions, where local care home residents come to visit us. They watch a demonstration, meet our horses and then of course have tea and cake! We adore these sessions and it is amazing to see the impact it has on our visitors. Of course our horses love the attention!

The new boy Ruairí has joined the herd! Finding a good friend in Breon, he has started getting used to life at Gareloch RDA, even getting involved in last week’s TWAP. When he has finished some training we think he will make a great addition to the team.

Half way through the month we ran our Annual General Meeting. We are delighted to have been joined by a new trustee and board member, the knowledgeable Michelle Smith! Welcome to the Board! We also said goodbye to Elise, after over a decade of work on our board in different roles, Elise stepped down as a trustee. She won’t be going too far though, as she will continue on with Carriage Driving where she can. Thank you so much for your years of service Elise. Most notably as Carriage Driving trustee during the development and introduction of our driving section.

Let’s enjoy June and see what the summer brings!

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29/05/2026

It’s been an exciting week at Gareloch RDA! Our new boy, who is starting his training to enter the ridden sessions, got his first taste of RDA life.

Ruairí, our newest herd member, got to join in with this weeks Tea With A Pony, enjoying the company of our guests!

We love Tea With A Pony, a chance for our group to meet and chat with local care home residents, while they get to watch our horses at work and then meet them! Afterwards, we all enjoy a bit of tea and cake! What is not to love!

Ruairí was a superstar and loved the session- we are sure he will make a brilliant addition to Gareloch RDA.

If you want to help support our purchase of Ru, we are running a go fund me. The details are posted below!

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https://www.justgiving.com/page/tammie-heenan-1?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_transactional_--_donation_received_--_nth_donation&fbclid=IwdGRjcASFA0tleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeWTQYJmdXSRs7-iulIYfhikIE9Cl2Z_nkJC2RObTOvPb8P7gGpbEmhjNT-xc_aem_2iWa2kAxMmGRV5hHdB9RjA

Help Tammie Heenan raise money to support Gareloch Riding for the Disabled Association

26/05/2026

How do we shape what we do? We do it with inclusivity in mind. This means the way one lesson is delivered may be very different between two groups, to achieve the same goal!

We work hard to make our lessons inclusive and fun for everyone we can ☺️

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17/05/2026

Yesterday was a very exciting day at Gareloch RDA! Our wonderful newbie Ruairí came out of isolation and is now very happy in the field with his new friends Breon, Brodie and Luca! He was brought in yesterday afternoon to his new stable and was very happy meeting all the other horses as they came in too.

You can help fund the care of Ruairí and all of our horses by donating to our Just Giving fundraiser.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/tammie-heenan-1?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=lc_frp_share_transaction_transactional_--_donation_received_--_nth_donation

15/05/2026

For a while we have been following the stories of those within Gareloch RDA and the impact of the group on their lives. The work that makes an impact, however, cannot happen without the support of our volunteers and those that make donations to ensure we can continue working.

Today’s Friday Story comes from a good friend of GRDA, Gary.

‘Hi, Would like to introduce myself. Gary Wilson, a former Submariner who founded the Facebook group, BUDDIES IN BOATS, for former and serving Submariners.

Back in around 2013, a good friend of mine informed me Gill White and her son Strachan were involved with Gareloch RDA.
Gill was a WREN back in the eighties, and both served with her at HMS Neptune.
It was at that time BUDDIES IN BOATS, decided to get involved with your Association in a monetary way.

Up to now we have donated a little over £12,000 to Gareloch RDA, and will continue to do so for as long as we are able. Since 2013 we have donated over £80,000 to good causes and charities, including donating to another RDA in Barrow, Furness RDA.

We adopted two of your former horses, Bosun and Holly, sadly they were both retired. However our current adoptees are Breon & more recently Bobby. Both are proud wearers of Royal Navy and Australian navy Dolphins on there brow bands.

On behalf of everyone in our two groups, I would like to say you all of you do a fantastic job, and its a pleasure to see the smiles on your riders faces.
Long may it continue.’

Thank you so much Gary and all of Buddies in Boats. Your incredible work is what enables us to tell so many stories on Fridays and we are all so grateful!

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