RYA grants to help tackle diversity and inequality
The RYA is giving away £195,000 in National Lottery-funded small grants for projects that bring together local communities. Non-profit organisations and OnBoard and Sailability venues in England are invited to apply. The funding is from the Sport England Together Fund, a continuation of the Tackling Inequalities Fund which has supported the physical activity sector during the pandemic.
The Together Fund will be used for projects which engage with:
- Lower socio-economic groups
- Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities
- Disabled people
- People with long term health conditions
“This funding has made a real impact so far and as a result we’re seeing some really innovative programmes which are successfully connecting sailing with new audiences,” says RYA director of sport development, Rob Clark.
“For this round, we’re looking to fund projects which not only support vulnerable people to get on the water but that will also provide growth and recovery to venues following the pandemic.”
So far, the RYA has allocated £285,000 of National Lottery funding directly to 39 venues around the UK.
The Norfolk Schools Sailing Association provided a series of learn to sail sessions for a group of young Sudanese refugees, with three sailors attending the National Schools Regatta as part of the Norfolk Team. The remaining funding is used to support individuals on a low income to access their main sailing programme.
Cobnor Activities Centre, based in Chichester, funded a programme of activities for clients at Stone Pillow, a charity helping homeless and vulnerable people to achieve independence.
Gary Palmer, head of Cobnor Outdoors Activity Trust says: “The funding from the RYA has enabled people to engage in an activity they would never have dreamt of or been able to access themselves within their challenging lives. It’s enabled us to open our doors to enhance our offer to people through sailing.”
Applications for this round of funding must be submitted before 31 July 2022.
