Volunteers in Saddleworth have been busy on an array of fundraisers to support disabled children and adults who enjoy horse riding therapy. The Saddleworth Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), one of around 500 such groups across the UK, provides riding and therapeutic sessions for people with disabilities. The group, which serves residents across the Oldham borough and beyond, has recently held a tractor run, a glitzy fundraising evening and a Halloween party for its riders and their families.

The eye-catching Saddleworth Tractor Group convoy trundled through local streets last month, raising more than £400 for the charity. Twenty-three tractors set off from the Diggle Hotel and took a route through Marsden and Slaithwaite before returning to the Diggle pub. The drivers’ efforts were described as a fantastic show of community spirit, with the money going straight towards supporting the RDA group’s activities.

Looking ahead, the group is organising an evening of glitz and glamour in a bid to raise £1,000 to give the newly formed Saddleworth RDA Group a flying start. The fundraising event, which promises a night of entertainment, aims to secure the vital funds needed to cover the costs of riding sessions, equipment and horse care. Organisers are calling on local businesses and residents to support the cause and help ensure that disabled people in the area continue to have access to the therapeutic benefits of horse riding.

Meanwhile, there has been ghoulish fun for all ages as Saddleworth RDA held its first social gathering since the Covid-19 pandemic. Riders of all ages who attend the group were joined by their friends and families, alongside volunteers and trustees, for a Halloween party outside the group’s base. The event was a welcome chance for the community to come together again and celebrate the joy that the RDA brings to so many lives.

The Saddleworth RDA Group offers specially adapted riding sessions and hippotherapy (physiotherapy on horseback) for children and adults with a wide range of physical and learning disabilities. The sessions not only promote physical wellbeing, but also boost confidence and provide a sense of freedom and independence. All the group’s instructors and helpers are volunteers, and the charity relies entirely on donations and fundraising to continue its vital work.

Charlotte Whitfield, a volunteer coordinator for the group, said: “We are so grateful to everyone who has taken part in our recent fundraisers. The tractor run was a brilliant sight and the money raised will make a real difference. The Halloween party was a lovely way to bring our riders and their families together after such a difficult period. Now we are looking forward to our glitz and glamour event and hope the local community will get behind us again.”

For anyone interested in supporting the Saddleworth RDA Group, whether through volunteering, making a donation or attending future events, more information is available on their social media pages. Every penny raised stays within the Oldham area and helps provide life-changing experiences for local disabled riders.