Surrey RDA Volunteer Wins Top Torch Trophy Trust Award

A volunteer from Leatherhead Riding for the Disabled Group, Grace Lloyd-Jones, has won a Torch Trophy Trust Award for Outstanding Support for Disability which she received from HRH the Duke of Gloucester at a special ceremony in London recently.


The Torch Trophy Trust Awards are presented annually to nominations from across sports’ governing bodies and organisations to recognise grassroots voluntary work for sport and recreation in clubs and community initiatives. Sir Bobby Charlton is the Trust’s President.


“My mum has volunteered at Leatherhead RDA for as long as I can remember” said Grace, “so I must thank her for getting me involved. I so wanted to be able to give back to a sport that I had loved particularly as it’s so reliant on volunteers, but when I started working I couldn’t commit to regular sessions but was encouraged to take on the Regional Committee role”.


Grace was nominated by RDA’s Regional Chair, Lindsay Correa, for her role as Regional Dressage Representative. “Grace has taken up the role with enthusiasm and dedication, carving time out of her busy professional life to provide our riders with informed advice and mounting a most enjoyable annual competition at Hickstead” said Lindsay.


In addition, she is also responsible for ensuring that the 37 groups across the region are fully briefed on RDA UK guidelines, policies and procedures and provides ongoing advice to support safe practice.


“Grace makes an astonishing impact on RDA at group and regional level. This is a very well deserved award” added Lindsay.
“I've thoroughly enjoyed my time on the Regional Committee and I am glad I can put my organisational event management skills to good use,“ said Grace. “It was lovely to be recognised in this way and hopefully shows that volunteers, employers and charities can get a lot out of being flexible to allow anyone who wants to volunteer to be able to, including young people!”


The evening at the Army and Navy Club was a celebration of unsung sporting volunteers with a cross section of sports represented from riding to netball, ParkRun to rounders.

 

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