Funding Boost Gets More Gainsborough Scouts Afloat
by Karenza Morton.
Date: 27 October 2011
The 14th Gainsborough Scouts group will be able to offer even more and better opportunities to get local youngsters out on the water next summer after being handed a £10,000 funding boost by Sport England.
Thanks to the grant, the Scouts have two brand new state-of-the-art Laser Bahia dinghies to offer a stable teaching platform with the potential to stretch the Scouts as their abilities improve.
Sailing is a major part of the Scouts’ outdoor activities programme, providing not only the opportunity to get out on the water, but gain RYA qualifications, develop their racing skills as members of local clubs and even become instructors themselves if they wish.
But for the past couple of years the group has been restricted in the number of people who could sail at any one time, and in introducing the younger Cub sections to sailing, after part of their old wooden Enterprise dinghy fleet turned rotten and was consigned to a bonfire.
Bright Future
Now the future looks bright as the new Bahias mean up to 10 more people can sail at the same time.
Tony Baldock, Leader and Sailing Instructor, explains: “The Scout group has about 50 members at present and there are about 300 members of the Scout association in our District. The group also has connections with Girl Guiding UK and we will be offering a sailing experience to their members as well.
“Sailing requires many skills allowing us to deliver an adventurous activity that challenges people of all ages, and enables some Scouts to develop to a greater potential. We have a number of instructors who learned to sail as Scouts and who have stayed in Scouting as Explorer Scouts and become RYA accredited sailing instructors.
“Those who wish to develop racing skills are encouraged to join local sailing clubs. From there, with support from the club, the RYA provides opportunities for young people to get involved in regional and national events and training sessions.”
The Scouts’ grant application was supported by Gareth Brookes, the RYA’s Regional Development Officer for the Midlands. He said: “For people to stay in any sport they have to enjoy taking part. People are more likely to enjoy themselves if organisations have first-class equipment. These new boats are an exciting addition to the Scouts’ training fleet and will hopefully play a big part in turning more people into regular sailors.”
For more information about how to get into sailing visit www.rya.org.uk.
