RDA recruits Head of Therapy

iding for the Disabled Association (RDA) has appointed Denise Robertson as Head of Therapy. The new role has been created to better evidence the therapeutic benefits of RDA activities, to use this evidence to improve training for volunteers, and to raise the profile of this important aspect of the charity’s work. Denise joins RDA from NSPCC/Childline, where she was Assistant Director.

Often taken as a given, the delivery of real and meaningful therapy is the cornerstone of RDA’s work, and the appointment of a Head of Therapy will give the appropriate weight to this area. Within RDA there is a wealth of anecdotal evidence of the life-changing physio- and psycho-social benefits of the charity’s activities, but this is the first time that these benefits will be scrutinised and analysed in a robust and coherent way.

“It can be a challenge to show how services benefit users when you have to respect their confidentiality or if they have significant communication difficulties,” explains new Head of Therapy, Denise Robertson.  “We need to be able to back up individual success stories with hard evidence of the difference that RDA activities can make. Ultimately, this information can then be used to ensure the best possible therapeutic outcomes for all RDA participants.”

RDA Chief Executive, Ed Bracher adds: “The appointment of Denise as our Head of Therapy is a great boost to us as a national organisation. At our 500 RDA Groups across the UK, the benefits of our activities are far reaching and well understood, but subjecting this evidence to more robust scrutiny will be a big step forward. I welcome Denise to RDA and know she will be a great asset to National Office.”

For more information about Riding for the Disabled Association, please visit www.rda.org.uk