To support our representatives across the UK and beyond in carrying out their roles effectively, the Riders Branch holds a bi-annual Representatives Seminar Weekend. Rather than being a formal training course, the seminar is designed as a practical refresher, ensuring that all reps remain confident, informed, and up to date with the tools and responsibilities that support the branch. Over the course of the weekend, a wide range of important topics were covered, including:
- Branch web services
- GDPR and data protection
- Effective use of email communications
- The Riders Branch forum and newsletters
- Handling and paying in funds and donations
- Event insurance procedures (RBLR1)
- Branch policies and governance
- and more
This year’s event was made particularly special with the attendance of our guest speaker, Clare Waterworth MBE, Chief of Staff at the Royal British Legion. Clare brought with her a wealth of experience from an exceptional career spanning both military service and senior government roles. She served for 30 years as an officer in the Royal Military Police, rising to the rank of Colonel before retiring from the British Army.
Of course, the social side of the weekend is every bit as important as the more formal parts of the seminar. While the official sessions provide valuable updates, guidance, and discussion on key branch matters, the less formal time spent together offers something equally important. It gives officers and representatives the chance to meet properly, talk openly, share experiences from their own areas, and exchange ideas in a relaxed setting.
That time together helps build understanding, trust, and stronger working relationships across the branch. It allows people to learn from one another, discuss challenges, explore new ideas, and develop a stronger sense of shared purpose. For a national branch such as ours, where people are spread across different regions, that opportunity to come together face to face is invaluable.
Just as importantly, it strengthens the camaraderie and teamwork that sit at the heart of everything the branch does. The seminar is not only about information and administration, but also about maintaining the friendships, mutual support, and collective spirit that help the Riders Branch continue to thrive.
And some found it all just too much to cope with altogether !