Riding for the Disabled Association benefits from Vodafone volunteer

Millers Nook Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) centre has gratefully received an extra pair of hands, thanks to Vodafone.

Carly Atkinson is one of 500 winners of Vodafone’s World of Difference competition to be awarded a £2500 grant to spend two months volunteering at a charity of her choice.

Twenty-year-old student Carly, chose her local RDA centre, near Bolton in Lancashire, and is so far a month into the project.

“I’ve been helping out running the yard and leading during lessons and it’s been great,” Carly says. “I definitely want to carry this on and any spare time I have I’ll spend here.”

As well as yard duties, Carly, who is from Pemberton, near Wigan, has contacted equestrian retailers across the country asking for donations.

The Millers Nook centre, which has been the target of two major tack robberies in the past two years, has received contributions from Eddie Palin’s Liveryman, Robinsons Country Leisure, Dengie and Spillers thanks to Carly’s efforts.

“Carly is such an asset to us,” said Kath Miller, owner of Millers Nook. “Volunteers are getting scarcer and scarcer and Carly’s such a joy to work with – it feels like we’ve won the lottery!”

Preparing to start nursing college in April, Carly has enjoyed her placement so much she has decided to stay an extra month.

Millers Nook has 80 disabled and special needs clients on its books and employs just two full-time staff. They rely on volunteers to help with lessons and looking after their 20 horses.

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