Funding awarded to sailing projects tackling inequality

Some 17 Sailability and OnBoard venues throughout England will receive individual grants of up to £10,000 for projects that aim to tackle inequalities in sport and help reduce the negative impact of Covid-19.

The £150,000 of National Lottery Funding was awarded to the RYA from the Sport England Tackling Inequalities Fund which benefits organisations running projects that engage with lower socio-economic groups, ethnically diverse communities, disabled people and people with long term health conditions.

In the Liverpool City Region, which has one of the highest levels of deprivation in the country, Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre is using its funding to offer highly subsidised windsurfing sessions to help make the sports more accessible to a wider audience.

The funding is also giving the centre the potential to offer opportunities for young adults to train to be instructors in exchange for voluntary work once qualified.

“Windsurfing has been in a steady decline for a number of years, without more investment in the sport there’s a risk that it could fade away completely,” says Simon Pendlebury, development manager at the centre. “Project’s like this will hopefully engage with a new cohort of budding windsurfers and allow more people the opportunity to experience the thrill windsurfing provides.”

Another venue awarded funding is Croydon Sailing Club (CSC) with a project in conjunction with Croydon Youth and Schools Sailing Association (CYSSA) to provide sailing opportunities through Scout groups for youngsters living in deprived areas surrounding the club.

Having found that many local youngsters don’t possess suitable outdoor clothing for water sports, the club has also used the funding to purchase a large selection of waterproof outfits including footwear to keep them dry and comfortable.

The clubs and centres to be awarded funding are:

• Hengistbury Head Outdoor Education Centre
• Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre
• Croydon Sailing Club
• Lincoln & District Sailing Association
• Salford Watersports Centre
• Midland Sailing Club
• The Nancy Oldfield Trust
• Lancashire Outdoor Activities Initiative
• Horizons (Plymouth)
• Plymouth Youth Sailing
• Westminster Boating Base
• Islington Boat Club
• Andrew Simpson Foundation
• All Aboard Watersports Centre
• Cobnor Activities Centre Trust
• Tees & Hartlepool Yacht Club
• Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre