Board of Trustees

ARC Hippotherapy is governed by a board of volunteer trustees, who together make decisions regarding the development and direction of the group. Trustees are voted in by the group’s members through a resolution taken at a trustee or annual general meeting. Trustees carry out their role through attending and participating in trustee or committee meetings. It is at these meetings that the main strategic decisions for the group are made. All charity trustees have legal duties and responsibilities, and the ARC Hipptherapy Trustees work together to make sure that these duties are met. The Trustee Board members include:

Marcia Ratcliffe
Chair

When I retired in 2015 I was approached by Valerie with her idea of setting up ARC hippotherapy. With my career in hospital medicine, albeit not in paediatrics or neurology and my deep love of horses, I had no hesitation in supporting her.

Over the last seven years the group has treated a large number of children, some of whom are still receiving therapy with us. Their improvement has been extremely rewarding and I’m continually amazed by the positive effects of horse movement on these often severely disabled children. With our volunteers similarly moved by their involvement this keeps us as a very close caring group.

I feel very humbled to be part of ARC hippotherapy; my role as chair, I know, is purely as a result of my age!

Lisa Matheson
Secretary

I became involved with ARC Hippotherapy right at the beginning. Valerie had completed her hippotherapy training and was very keen to set up a group in Aberdeen. Having no medical background or experience in working alongside people with special needs, I found the whole concept fascinating. My skills lay in administration, so it seemed fitting to offer my services as Group Secretary.

I am very proud of what the group has achieved since its inception in May 2016. It has gone from strength to strength. It is so rewarding to be part of something which provides such a unique and vital source of therapy to so many individuals who often have so many difficulties to face in their lives.

From a personal perspective, I have learned so much from being part of this group. I could never have imagined how the movement of a horse could be so beneficial and it is fascinating to listen to Valerie and understand how she uses this movement to provide physiotherapy to each individual in a very specific way. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Margaret Swerling
Treasurer

I work at Tigh a' Chomainn Camphill where my main role is Finance Officer. Tigh a’ Chomainn support 10 residents with additional support needs and since the pandemic we also run day workshops.

My children have enjoyed horse riding at Aberdeen Riding club since they were young and I started riding in 2020.

It is fantastic to be involved with hippotherapy and I volunteer when I can. As I am relatively new to working with horses I am grateful to learn from the other volunteers.

Being on the board means I can use my expertise in inclusive social development and finance while indulging my passion for horses.

Alison Gray
Safeguarding Officer

With a deep love for horses and a heart for our vulnerable population, I saw volunteering with ARC Hippotherapy as the perfect opportunity. Little did I know just how important this group would become to me.

It had been many years since I'd had the opportunity to be around horses and I was a little nervous, but the group was so welcoming and kind in their training it wasn't long before Friday Hippotherapy sessions were my absolute happy place! It is such a privilege to work with the incredible ponies and horses we are provided, and a beautiful experience to witness the impact of these sessions on the participant riders we work with.

Joining the Trustee Board has been another incredible experience and when the need arose, I was happy to take on the responsibility of Safeguarding Officer. It is a wonderful feeling, being able to use my skills and creativity and experience for the benefit of the population we support.

Joy Marshall
Trustee

I have been involved with various Riding for the Disabled groups since I was initially asked to help by a friend in the late 1980s.

Suffice to say, I loved it – I loved the positive vibes, the encouragement that everyone gives to the riders to stretch themselves beyond their comfort zone, seeing the benefit that the movement of the horse brings, the amazing progress that they make and everyone's happy smiles at the end of sessions.

I missed all this when my local group disbanded post Covid and having known Marcia for a long time, I had no hesitation in joining the ARC Hippotherapy team. I am very impressed with the wonderful set up, the riding school, the horses and the superb organisation of the sessions.

I think all the volunteers benefit greatly from the input of Physiotherapy students, the students love the interaction in such an unusual environment for most of them and everyone learns from Valerie as she teaches them how to get the maximum benefit from the sessions for our riders. Very much a win:win situation.

I was delighted to be invited to become a trustee to support this fantastic team.

Kate Brockman
Trustee

As a volunteer with the RDA ‘Maryculter driving for the disabled group’, I have been a Coach and Group organiser since 2006.

Seeing the enjoyment and benefits that our participants gain from driving or being driven, I was interested to find out what Hippotherapy could offer.

The ARC Hippotherapy team are great and every time I attend, I learn something new and see what a positive effect physiotherapy on horseback can have for the children involved, and their families.

I have been around horses since childhood, and in true hippophile fashion, have acquired a small herd of my own soulmates!