Kimberley House RDA Group presentation

Rotary Club of Leicester presents £2,000 of items to Kimberley House Riding for the Disabled Group to mark Association’s 50th birthday 

The Rotary Club of Leicester has presented Leicester-based Kimberley House Riding for the Disabled Association Group with £2,000 of equestrian items after fundraising to mark The Riding for the Disabled Association’s 50th anniversary year.

On Thursday 28th November Chris Saul, current President of The Rotary Club of Leicester, presented the items, including jodhpurs, riding boots, specialist reins and safety equipment to members of the Kimberley House RDA Group,  a founding RDA group which is based at Witham Villa Equestrian Centre in Broughton Astley.

£1,000 was raised via a summer funday at Witham Villa in June organised by Kimberley House and Rotary Club members.  The event included a demonstration by Kimberley House riders and children from the Pony Club based at Witham Villa, along with other equestrian demonstrations, stalls, a barbeque and raffle. The funds raised by the Rotary Club of Leicester via the funday were then matched by a grant from the Rotary Foundation. 

All members of the Kimberley House Group are aged between 8 and 14 years and attend Ash Field Academy in Leicester, a day and weekly boarding school for around 160 pupils who have a range of disabilities which can be combined with one or more needs of a sensory, communication, learning, medical or behavioural nature. Ash Field Academy’s Principle, Jenny Bone also attended the presentation, along with parents, carers and governors.  

Kimberley House RDA Group is run entirely by volunteers who prepare the horses for riding, the arena and assist with leading and side-walking riders who are less confident.  Volunteers also help with fundraising as the group receives no outside funding. 

Sarah Smith from Kimberley House RDA says: “We are so grateful to members of the Rotary Club of Leicester and everyone who supported the funday for providing these fantastic items.  Children have been riding in ordinary clothing which is not always suitable.  The new riding clothing will make their experience even more comfortable and enjoyable, with new polo and sweatshirts adding to the children’s feeling of being part of this special group.  The specialist safety equipment will also help the children to develop their riding whilst also making sessions easier for volunteers.”