Grant funding helps sailing club train new volunteer instructors
A Louth area sailing club has been able to train 24 volunteer instructors thanks to more than £7,000 in grant aid.
Covenham Sailing Club has boosted its volunteer training capacity and expanded opportunities for people living with disabilities and long-term health conditions thanks to a £7,138 grant from the East Coast Community Fund (ECCF), provided by Danish renewables company Ørsted, which is constructing the world’s biggest offshore wind farms off the UK’s east coast..
The “Everyone Afloat” project, delivered by the fully volunteer-led charity based at Covenham Reservoir, has enabled 24 volunteers to receive specialist sailing and safety training. These volunteers contributed a total of 192 hours of their time, which is valued at more than £2,200. Training was delivered on site by expert coach Jazz Turner, supporting the club to further improve the quality and safety of its inclusive watersports sessions.
The grant has helped the club upskill its team so they can support even more participants. This includes around 30 trainees who rely on the club’s volunteer-led sessions to access the water safely and with confidence.
The sailing club provides accessible sailing opportunities for people who may otherwise be excluded due to disability, health conditions, financial pressures or confidence issues. All equipment is purchased through grants and fundraising. This ensures that activities remain affordable for participants who are often supported by carers and living on limited incomes.
The difference created by the project has been significant. Judith Templeman, Honorary Treasurer at the club, said: “Thanks to the East Coast Community Fund, we have been able to increase the skills of our volunteers and expand the opportunities available to those who come to learn. The only limit is their imagination. Dreams really can come true.”
Commenting on the project, Imran Nawaz, Ørsted’s Senior Advisor and Community Benefit Fund Manager, said: “Covenham Sailing Club provides an incredibly inclusive and supportive environment for people who might not otherwise be able to access water sports. We are delighted that our East Coast Community Fund has helped expand their volunteer training, ensuring that even more people can enjoy the physical, mental and social benefits of being safely out on the water.”
The “Everyone Afloat” project is one of many initiatives supported through the East Coast Community Fund, which is provided by Ørsted as part of its commitment to supporting coastal communities close to its offshore wind farm operations.
In the latest round of the East Coast Community Fund, £225,156 has been awarded to organisations across the region. These include:
Tonic Health – £21,533 – Pescod Youth Hub
Wyberton Parish Council – £33,872 – Solar panels and heating for Wyberton Community Centre
North Somercotes Bowls Club – £3,932 – Installation of UPVC double glazing
East Marsh Community Space CIC – £4,974 – Café Delight disabled toilet
Marshchapel Village Hall – £9,493 – Kitchen refurbishment
Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service – £30,250 – Coastal Connections Mobi Hub concept
West Marsh Development Trust – £13,600 – Boiler replacement at West Marsh Community Centre
Kidscape – £2,600 – Youth Community Leader Training
Since its launch, the East Coast Community Fund has awarded more than £3.5 Million to community projects across Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and North Norfolk, supporting local facilities, young people, environmental improvements and community wellbeing.
Details on how to apply can be found at: grantscape.org.uk/fund/eastcoastcommunityfund/