Jason Webster | West Coast Riding for the Disabled (WCRDA)
Mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs – Employee highlight
The core purpose of NZ Riding for the Disabled (NZRDA) is to provide interaction with horses to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for people experiencing disability, or who have specific challenges or needs. NZ Riding for the Disabled aims to enable and support people with a disability to achieve good lives including meaningful participation in, and contribution to, important life activities and roles in their community.
West Coast RDA recently received funding from the Westland Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) enabling them to employ two of their long term volunteers. One of these individuals is Jason Webster. Jason has Down Syndrome and rides with at RDA every Tuesday, and then returns on Wednesday and Thursday to work. Jason has proven himself as an all-rounder bagging up manure (never-ending job), de-nailing timber, cleaning and filling water containers, bringing ponies in from the paddock, unloading hay and acting as a hammer-hand when building work is underway. In addition to offering some wage support the Westland MTFJ have supplied Jason with protective work gear and will help with costs towards the maintenance of his bicycle which serves as his primary mode of transport to and from work.
Jason arrives at RDA on his bike, which gives him wonderful independence, complete with all the gear he needs for the day. He also uses the bike to move water containers and hay around. Jason says: “I just love RDA so much. I love the horses and the riding and helping out. I like being part of the team and I feel that I belong. RDA makes me happy.”
The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs is a Local Government fund focused on supporting youth 16 – 24 year olds in to employment, people with a disability returning to or entering the workforce. They also support small businesses find employees for hard-to-fill positions. If you are interested in learning more about the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs in Westland visit the website or contact the team directly mtfj@westlanddc.govt.nz.
Text and photo by Jane Neale – WCRDA
