• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
Get our Newsletter

Lifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living HomepageLifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Schools
      • Property
      • Work And Business
      • Finance
      • For Guys
      • Environment
        • UFIT TennisOutdoor activities – group fitness classes, tennis, cycling etc.
        • feng shui focus lucy richardsonExpat Journey: Lucy Richardson
        • Forbidden Hill fathers day gifts15 Fabulous Father’s Day Gifts and Things to Do
        • weddingTop 20 wedding venues in Singapore, for all sorts of couples
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • Muswell Hill comedy Pangdemonium dinner partyPangdemonium brings Muswell Hill to Singapore
        • looking for clues treasure hunt time heistWin big in the Civic District treasure hunt
        • As You Were ArtworksWhat’s on this week and beyond
        • The National Stadium - Sports Hub Best venues for concertsTheatres in Singapore plus venues for events & concerts!
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • pre & post baby items cleaning by pramwashWhen did you last clean the baby pram?
        • Nexus International School students reading in library learning experienceLearning for the Future at Nexus
        • Forbidden Hill fathers day gifts15 Fabulous Father’s Day Gifts and Things to Do
        • fishing 3aHoliday fun and outdoor activities at this Adventure Camp
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Decor
      • Readers’ Homes
      • Furniture
        • feng shui focus lucy richardsonExpat Journey: Lucy Richardson
        • European bedding best mattressBest mattresses for the best sleep!
        • antique furniture singaporeAntique furniture shops – plus vintage and reproduction furniture!
        • Where to buy lamps in SingaporeWhere to buy lamps in Singapore – lights galore!
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australia & New Zealand
      • Rest Of World
      • News
      • Travel Offers
        • ideas for a long weekend awayPlan ahead for that long weekend away!
        • international health insuranceProtecting your health overseas in 2022
        • Krabi Thailand beachfront villas for beach holiday in ThailandBeachfront villas in Krabi Thailand – perfect for your next beach holiday!
        • New ZealandYour mini guide to New Zealand
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • Pizza12 great places to get the best pizza in Singapore
        • Farmers market - butcher - meat shopTop butchers for good-quality meat
        • Sugarhall DaquriLatest bars in Singapore: New drinking spots!
        • M&S Meat Free NuggetsPlant-based nuggets – here’s what we think!
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
      • Beauty Offers
        • hydrating products skinTried and tested: Hydrating Products for Dry Skin
        • ARIANE ZAGURY 2A Curated Fashion House for All
        • Frizz TreatmentIn need of a quick fix for frizzy hair?
        • Spray tan singaporeGet a golden glow quickly with a spray tan!
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • injuries to hip and hamstring injuriesInjuries to hip muscles & hamstring injuries – how to treat them!
        • UFIT TennisOutdoor activities – group fitness classes, tennis, cycling etc.
        • overweightWeight gain and your health – How a GP can help
        • PainWhat is pain and how do you treat it?
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • BOOKS
    • Close

Want to volunteer in Singapore?

13th June 2018 by Amy Brook-Partridge 4 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/volunteering-in-singapore-riding-for-the-disabled-association/

Volunteering is a great way to use your time and get involved with the local community while you are living in Singapore. British expat Becky Vinden tells us what’s involved when you volunteer at Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), and how you can help.

image of expat Becky Vinden who is volunteering in Singapore with the RDA

What motivated you to volunteer at Riding for the Disabled?

I was looking around for a charity where I could offer assistance and I came across RDA on a walk one day; I’ve been a volunteer with them now for about two years. I grew up around horses and rode for most of my childhood and adolescence before heading to university. I also love working with children, and my mother was an active volunteer for RDA in the UK when I was growing up, so I know the organisation and it felt like a good fit.

Do you have previous experience working for charities?

I’ve worked with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) here in Singapore under their Enable-A-Family scheme. The scheme predominantly works with families and children who have experienced child abuse, neglect or domestic violence. As a volunteer, I befriended children and provided educational, emotional and social support with weekly visits and outings. In addition, I’ve participated in various fund-raising and volunteering missions in Bali and Cambodia.

image of group volunteering in Singapore with the RDA

What does volunteering at RDA entail?

RDA conducts two to three sessions a day, with each session usually having six riders at any one time and lasting for 45 minutes. Within a session, each rider will be assigned a horse or pony, and three volunteers. Two sidewalks are required per rider – these are the people who walk either side of the rider to offer physical support (if required), and to communicate with the rider to ensure they are comfortable at all times, and that they receive a safe, positive experience and the best possible therapy for their particular disability.

In addition, a leader is needed to prepare the horse or pony for the session. They will groom and “tack up” the horse, often with specialised equipment, warm up prior to the session as well as lead and take care of the horse for the entire session, and cool down afterwards. Furthermore, each session will have a trained instructor and an assistant instructor (also a volunteer) to conduct and oversee. During the session, riders will perform activities on horseback, and since the riders in each session can have varying degrees of mental and/or physical disability there is a focus on individualisation so they each receive the best possible therapy for them. At the end of each session there’s always a debrief to give feedback on the individual rider and discuss any progress or developments.

Riding with the disabled Singapore.

How can people help?

Each session requires a total of 19 volunteers plus an instructor, so we always need more volunteers – no experience necessary! Each volunteer will start as a side-walker, receive training, and, if they express an interest, may have the opportunity to lead once they have fulfilled the necessary training. We need enthusiastic people who are able to walk for 45 minutes beside a horse and provide a safe, positive experience for riders who are often nervous and lacking confidence or the ability to communicate effectively.

What’s the most rewarding thing about volunteering at RDA?

The beaming smile or gleeful giggle that an otherwise uncommunicative child gives when they are sitting on top of a horse – it’s the best feeling in the world!

image of child on horse for story on volunteering in Singapore

How important a job do you feel the Riding for the Disabled Association does in terms of assisting the disabled?

I think the experience that RDA offers is like no other, and the results are clearly visible. From seeing someone who is labelled as “non-verbal” speak for the first time, to a wheelchair bound person enjoy the feeling of freedom and confidence that RDA offers, you really cannot underestimate the importance of hippotherapy (therapy treatment using horses) and of RDA in the disabled community.

How else can people help if they can’t volunteer?

If people don’t have the time or inclination to volunteer, there are other ways to support RDA. Since it’s a charity providing free-of-charge therapeutic riding sessions, it relies entirely on donations and the generosity of individuals or corporations, so any and all donations are greatly appreciated. RDA also hosts various fundraising activities that the whole family can get involved in – pony rides at their Open Day once a year, movie nights, a day at the races, golf days and a gala ball to name but a few.

To find out more about how you can help, go to rdasingapore.org, or call 6250 0176

For more head to our Living in Singapore section!

Where to recycle in Singapore

Love to help animals?

This article first appeared in the May 2018 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!

Amy Brook-Partridge

Amy has two kids, one dog and one husband - although she'd love to have more than one (dog, that is). She's mad about F45 training, running and playing Gaelic football, when she isn't injured or drinking a little too much wine.

Get the latest events, stories and special offers
sent to your inbox.

By signing up, you'll receive our weekly newsletters and offers, which you can unsubscribe to anytime.

Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Horse Riding Living In Singapore RDA Riding for the Disabled Association Volunteering In Singapore

Primary Sidebar

  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2022 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.