Riding Lesson Support - The Diamond Centre for Disabled Riders

Volunteers will work closely with the staff, horses, coaches and riders. You can tack up and untack the horses, then lead the riders in their lessons. Some volunteers prefer just to assist in the lessons, rather than prepare the horses. We also need side walkers for each rider, sometimes two for each pony.

About the Organisation

The Diamond Centre for Disabled Riders

What you will be doing

We need volunteers to help with our rides for children and adults with disabilities. You don't need to have experience with horses as full training will be given but it is a physical role, so some level of mobility will be required.

We do ask for a regular commitment from our volunteers because of the need to provide consistency in the lessons, but this commitment can be for as little or as long a time as you like. Some volunteers spend the day with us, some come for an hour. We are open Tuesday to Saturday from 8am until 8:30pm, so we can accommodate the time constraints that most volunteers have.
 
We are restricted by legalities and health and safety issues. We welcome volunteers from 13 to 17 but their volunteering will need to comply with legal guidelines, so will be restricted to certain times of the week.
 
As we work with large animals this will depend entirely on the nature of the disability, the main issue being the safety of the volunteer, horse and riders. Each case will need to be assessed individually.
 
Age Range: We welcome applications from under 18s, including from 13+.

What's in it for you?

Horses have a calming effect, which applies equally to both riders and volunteers. There is a huge satisfaction to be gained from the pleasure that our riders get from their sessions. We are a community at The Diamond Centre. We work together as part of a team. We also run social and fund raising activities for our volunteers and the wider community which you can become a part of.

What skills will you need?

Activities
Youth Work,General & Helping,Under-16 Volunteering
 
Skills & Attributes
Working part of Team, Listening Skills
 
Skills Description
Reliability; Flexibility; Empathy; A desire to work with disabled people and with horses. This is a physical role and a level of mobility is required.

What's the time commitment and where? 

We ask wherever possible for the time commitment to be reliable, regular and consistent because of the need to provide stability and consistency for our riders during their sessions. This could be for an hour a week, a day a week or several times a week.

Location: The Diamond Centre for Disabled Riders Woodmansterne Road, Carshalton, SM5 4DT. Our entrance is opposite Oaks Park Golf Club. There is no direct public transport to The Diamond Centre.

How can I apply?

Please complete the form below and we will put you in contact with the organisation.   It’s helpful if you can tell us a little about yourself and why you’re interested in this role in the message box below. 

By completing this form you agree for us to pass on your contact details to the organisation.

 

 

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