SKANSKA Facilities Services has completed the vital work that company volunteers were carrying out before the first classes of Forth Valley Riding for the Disabled Association kicked-off in Alva last week.

As the Advertiser highlighted recently, the company has been lending a hand to the charity, which is in desperate need of funding and support.

And on Friday (24 April), the first sessions of this spring started and key helpers from the company, Susan Weir and Craig Shaw, were on site to catch a glimpse of what the RDA has to offer.

The long-running charity, which was reformed after the older organisation at Fishcross’ Equestrian Centre moved away, provides therapeutic treatment to both physically and mentally disabled children who benefit from horse riding through ‘hippotherapy’.

Liz Patton, chairperson of the local RDA, told the Advertiser: “We need volunteers, that’s the main thing.

“Volunteers don’t need to have knowledge of horses, because a lot of people just walk at the sides. We need people to help maintain the grounds.

“We also need helpers on a Friday morning. We also have classes running on Wednesday evenings, but if we had more helpers, we could run more classes. People who can help with paperwork are also needed, there are lots of things that need doing.” The RDA at Greenhead Farm get many requests from people who used to go to the Bannockburn RDA, which unfortunately shut down due to lack of funding.

Liz said the charity is just building now, and she thanked Skanska for the massive boost it provided. Thanks also go to the owners of the farm, who generously donate the ponies for the sessions and provide a home for the association.

She added: “In the future we are hoping to fund a proper arena, which costs a lot of money, so we need funding and expertise on that.” r Find Forth Valley RDA on Facebook and donate through JustGiving at justgiving.com/ForthValleyRDA. To help or volunteer, get in touch via email fionapatton@rocketmail.com