A charity which helps people with disabilities roam the countryside on horseback is appealing for more volunteers so it can expand.
The Riding for the Disabled Association’s (RDA) Deeside Group has been running for the last 30 years, and give primary school children and adults with physical or learning difficulties the chance to go horse riding.
The group currently works with 33 people, but with many more on the waiting list, it is looking for more volunteers to help cope with demand.
It is also hoping to expand its service to offer secondary school youngsters the opportunity to ride.
Chairwoman Jill Randalls said: “We would love to be able to expand our services to provide places for everyone who’d like to benefit, however, in order to offer more places we desperately need more volunteers.
“We currently have about 52 volunteers, and I know that probably does sound like a lot but we’d like to get more if possible due to the care needed for each rider.
“As it stands, the volunteers we have do a few hours at time which can be quite hard work, so what we’d like to do is have enough volunteers so people can just come and do two riding sessions, which wouldn’t take up more than an hour as we understand people are busy.
“We are also looking into the need for starting evening sessions for secondary school children as we only have facilities for primary school children and adults so it’s a real shame that kids have to give it up around primary seven.
“Anyone with a reasonable level of fitness, aged between 16 and 90 can volunteer and no riding experience is necessary.”
Volunteer Avril Shannon, said: “I’ve been volunteering for nearly five years and it’s been so rewarding to do something positive in my community.
“In the time I have been volunteering, to watch children who have started off with a fear of horses, to see them develop and their confidence grow is fantastic.
“To anyone thinking of volunteering I would tell them it’s a really small amount of your time in a week compared to the joy it gives the riders, and it’s incredibly rewarding to watch the enjoyment on their faces when then come to us.”
If you would like to volunteer at the World Horse Welfare Centre in Aboyne, or would like further information, e-mail rdadeeside@gmail.com or call 01330 824850.