For UK Coaching Week this year, Natalie O’Rourke, RDA Coach, tells us about her experience of attending our Princess Royal Coach Academy and about a participant at her Group who struggled with mental health challenges. 

MENTAL HELATH & WELL-BEING

Since taking part in the RDA Princess Royal Coaching Academy my confidence and knowledge has really increased. I have completed many more training sessions at our group and we are upskilling our team of volunteers and staff. Many of our team have additional needs and we pride ourselves on offering employment opportunities for those with additional needs. This is not without challenges, especially to find areas for growth and to ensure people are not stagnating in their roles. The academy has equipped me with the right tools and skills to push our team members further up the coaching ladder. 

‘Sally’ was referred to us by social services as she was in mental health crisis. Sally had suffered a mental breakdown during the Covid lockdown, as a result of this her children had been removed from her. Sally was a young mum and had never had a job but had enjoyed horses as a child. Her support worker thought spending time at the stables would help, how right she was. Sally enjoyed grooming and completing tasks around the yard, her confidence quickly grew and she began to attend without her support worker.  

Sally became a green carded volunteer and quickly made a good rapport with lots of participants. I suggested to her about becoming a coach and we took the steps slowly. Sally is now a coach in training well on her way to becoming a Group Coach, even attending training off site which is a huge step for her. More importantly through her confidence building at RDA and achieving her coach in training certificate she now has her children living back with her. Sally feels valued by our participants and her life has turned around. I have learned to listen which is a hugely important skill and provide the right training to help this young lady succeed. I also had the confidence to take on the challenge.