Letters  RSS feed | About

Something to say? Why not e mail us at editor@andoveradvertiser.co.uk

Life can be tough at the best of times, but for some there are extra challenges that need to be faced and overcome.

For a number of people the Riding for the Disabled groups are a chance to get involved in activities that might otherwise be beyond them.

It is a great organisation that is a federation of Member Groups which are dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities, through the provision of opportunities for riding and/or carriage driving.

The RDA website defines the groups' role as enabling people to improve their health and wellbeing, delivering a real and lasting therapy that not only benefits mobility and co-ordination, but encourages confidence and self worth whilst having fun.

As with so many aspects of life today the groups rely on volunteers, so it is sad to hear that the long-established Broughton RDA group is closing in June after 38 years.

The reasons are put down to operational issues and the fact that the 20 volunteers are past their first flush of youth and no younger people are coming through to take over from them.

It should be sounding alarm bells across the voluntary sector and also in the corridors of power within Whitehall.

So much of the good and necessary work that is done in this country is carried out by volunteers, whose efforts and dedication are acknowledged and appreciated by many, but taken for granted by some of those on high.

No matter how deplorable that might be, the wheels keep turning because those good folk keep giving of their own time.

But if the up-coming generations feel differently about voluntary work there will be a gaping hole blown into community activities that any government is going to be hard pressed to plug.

We can only hope that there's enough milk of human kindness to flow through younger veins to carry on the good work.

Joe Scicluna, Editor.

Print   Email this