Diamond seal of approval for Otley Sailing Club 

Otley SC recieve the Queens Award for Voluntary Service 2012

The “Sailfree” programme at Otley Sailing Club, near Leeds in Yorkshire has been given the royal seal of approval by receiving the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 2012.  

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service originated in 2002 to commemorate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and Otley Sailing Club joins over 100 other organisations receiving this prestigious award in 2012.  

Otley Sailing Club’s “Sailfree” programme was selected because of the outstanding contribution made to the local community by the volunteers involved. Sailfree at Otley was started over two decades ago by a member of the club, Norman Stephens, who remains involved.  

The club, which is an RYA Sailability Centre of Excellence, regularly works with a variety of groups from the local area, including John Smeaton Community College and John Jamieson School, Leeds; Bradford College; Henshaws College, Harrogate and Hollybank, Mirfield.

The “Sailfree” programme enables young people and adults with physical and learning difficulties to sail and complete skills and badge qualifications.  

Nick Hurd MP, Minister for Civil Society, said, “Volunteers make a huge difference across our society and should be recognised for their selfless dedication. They are an inspiration to others to get involved and make their own positive impact.”  

Former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis CBE, Chair of the Voluntary Service Award Committee, said, “In this Diamond Jubilee Year the judges have been hugely impressed by the many imaginative ways that volunteers are coming together to help build and sustain the fabric of our society. They are proof that in these difficult times the community spirit is alive and well right across the UK.”  

“Sailfree” at Otley is run purely by grants and donations from various sources and once again raising the money is carried out by the volunteers. The fact that Sailfree has been running for over twenty years is due to the hard work of all the volunteers and the generosity of the sponsors.  

More information about the Otley Sailing Club and the “Sailfree” programme can be found at www.otley-sailingclub.co.uk or by contacting the Club Rear Commodore, Peter Fox on 07801 979945 or by emailing pfox119@btinternet.com  

For more information about Sailability please visit www.rya.org.uk/sailability