At The CiaO Foundation, our mission is to provide aid, funding, practical support and encouragement to individuals with physical and/or mental disabilities who are facing seemingly insurmountable challenges.
For us, providing a CiaO grant is just the beginning of the journey. We are committed to supporting our grant recipients and partner organisations well beyond the application process, offering ongoing mentorship, guidance and encouragement whenever needed.
An important part of this support comes through volunteering.
CiaO is proud to offer opportunities for our supporters to become directly involved with the organisations and initiatives we help fund, creating meaningful experiences for both volunteers and beneficiaries alike.
One such example is our partnership with Epsom Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) and Dysart School, a special academy in Surbiton providing education for children and young people aged 4–19 with severe and complex learning difficulties.
Through CiaO’s support, pupils from Dysart School have been able to access therapeutic riding sessions at Epsom RDA, where horses play a powerful role in improving confidence, wellbeing and physical development.
Long-term CiaO supporters Vicci and Andrew Joyce became involved after learning more about the programme. Inspired by the impact of the partnership, and as a capable horsewoman herself, Vicci decided to volunteer at the RDA and shared her experience with us:
“I was delighted to be introduced to volunteering through CiaO. CiaO has a close relationship with the wonderful Dysart Special Needs School in Surbiton. Among many other donations, CiaO funded riding lessons for the children at Dysart at the Riding for the Disabled (RDA) centre in Epsom. I went along with Andy Hogge to meet the team and immediately knew I wanted to volunteer there.
The RDA gives disabled people the chance to improve their health and wellbeing through the therapeutic power of horses. It’s a safe, respectful environment where volunteers are supported and offered training. It provides a real sense of purpose and fulfilment. Working in a small, supportive team is a great way to learn new skills and meet interesting people from many different backgrounds.
It is a privilege to be involved, through interaction with both the horses and the riders. Volunteers gain so much by witnessing the benefits that horses bring to children who face many challenges in their young lives. Watching a child smile as they connect with the pony they’re riding is incredibly special.
The care the horses receive is also remarkable. Whether you are an experienced volunteer—some have been with the RDA for 18 years—or a complete novice like me with 18 months’ experience, everyone is learning together every day from these amazing horses and incredible children.
I can’t thank CiaO enough for introducing me to such a wonderful new experience.”
Volunteering can be an incredibly rewarding way to support the work of CiaO and our partner organisations. Whether offering practical help, sharing professional skills or simply giving your time, volunteers play a vital role in helping us extend the impact of our grants and strengthen the communities we support.
If you are interested in learning more about volunteering opportunities with The CiaO Foundation, we would love to hear from you. We are incredibly grateful to supporters like Vicci who help extend the impact of CiaO beyond financial support alone.
