Volvo RYA Champion Club Funding 

YOUTH SAILING IN CLUBS TO GET FUNDING BOOST FROM SPORT ENGLAND

Youth sailing in England has received a significant funding boost with Sport England awarding the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) an additional grant totalling 1.1 million with the purpose of further developing sailing and windsurfing for young people.

Through increased support for the RYA's existing Volvo RYA Champion Club, OnBoard and Team 15 youth initiatives, the funding will enhance the provision of junior and youth training, race training and provide additional coaching and coaching resources throughout England. It will also provide clubs with funding for the crucial process of training and developing volunteers.

By supporting coaching and volunteering at existing and potential Volvo RYA Champion Clubs, OnBoard and Team 15 clubs and centres, the funding will make sailing and windsurfing more accessible to young people across England while also providing progression for those who want to further develop their skills and take part in racing.

Duncan Truswell, RYA Junior Racing Manager, explained that the grant, to be rolled out over three years from 1 April 2008, provides a fantastic opportunity for clubs to swell their ranks and secure their long-term futures.

He said: This funding will be a real boon to youth sailing and windsurfing in England. It will allow even more clubs and centres to launch youth training programmes and engage with the OnBoard and Team 15 initiatives or become a Volvo RYA Champion Club.

It will also allow existing clubs to enhance the quality of training they provide and enable additional volunteers to become qualified. The funding aims to make it easier and more cost effective for clubs to develop these programmes by providing coaches and funding volunteer training

The provision of training is vitally important in ensuring the future success of clubs. Clubs which provide easy access for children and their families and also deliver safe, well-structured and effective training will attract more members and generate revenue for the club.

Who will be eligible for funding?

Sailing and windsurfing clubs and centers in England that are currently, or actively working towards becoming, a Volvo RYA Champion Club will be able to access the RYA Volvo Champion Club funding by producing a simple club development plan. For support and advice with a club development plan please see 'Resources and Information' or contact your regional RYA High Performance Manager.

 

Clubs that are interested in the Volvo RYA Champion Club scheme can find out more and request a Volvo RYA Champion Club booklet on the 'Becoming a Volvo Champion Club' page.

The following benefits are available for eligible clubs and centres as a result of the Club and Coach Funding:

RYA Regional Club Coaches employed by the RYA to deliver best practice on the water sessions within clubs, coaching junior sailors whilst also working with club volunteers to inspire them to provide more, effective race training. Managed and deployed by the regional RYA High Performance Managers.

Volunteering grants There are grants available for clubs to train, qualify, and retain club volunteers who are involved with junior training. The grants which are to be match funded can be put towards a variety of courses that will help to up-skill or have a positive impact on the junior racing or race training within clubs. An application form that contains full details regarding the grants can be downloaded from the 'related links' above. For clubs working towards becoming a VCC there are additional grants to help achieve the status by training club volunteers to support club activities.

Resources There are additional resources for clubs and coaches being developed nationally as a result of the Club and Coach funding, aimed at supporting clubs and raising the standard of club race training.

Where can I find further information?

For further information about grant applications, RYA programmes, or how the new funding may be able to help your club contact RYA Champion Club Liaison Officer, at vcc@rya.org.uk or call   02380 604245.

Eligible clubs who engage with the programme are required to complete a club report that takes the form of a simple register. There are added incentives for clubs who complete their club report, for the latest incentives, full guidance notes and a report template please visit: 'Reporting and Incentives'.

Sport England

Sport England advises, invests in and promotes community sport to create an active nation, to get two million people more active in sport by 2012.

To find out more about Sport England please visit http://www.sportengland.org/