Rudyard Lake Bids To Get Leek Kids Sailing As Club Gets OnBoard 

Staffordshire club the latest to sign up to flagship grassroots programme

More youngsters in and around Leek have the chance to get into sailing than ever after Rudyard Lake Sailing Club signed up to OnBoard, the flagship nationwide kids’ grassroots programme run by sailing’s national governing body, the RYA.

RYA OnBoard provides low cost sailing opportunities for local school and youth groups, enabling kids aged eight to 18 to learn to sail and stay in the sport. 

Three local schools have so far taken advantage of the new OnBoard sessions at Rudyard Lake since they started in May, with the scheme already having a big impact on more local kids joining and sailing at the club this summer. 

Youngsters from The Ryleys School took part in weekly sessions after school on Thursdays before breaking up for the summer, while youngsters from St Dominic’s Priory and Wincle School have also enjoyed fun taster sessions at the club.The Ryleys youngsters, all aged 8-9 years, completed Stages 1 and 2 of their RYA Youth Sailing Scheme over six weeks, but the sailing didn’t stop once they got their certificates as Tricia Ordsmith, Senior Instructor at Rudyard Lake SC, explains.

“We have been delighted with the impact of OnBoard so far,” she said. “For our summer holiday camp in August we had one Ryleys lad that couldn’t make it himself but he had enjoyed his OnBoard sessions so much he told his mates, who had never sailed before, to come to the holiday camp. 

"It was fantastic and several of them are now planning to get involved with our Jybaz junior sailing club to keep learning more.  

“OnBoard is designed so that young people, regardless of age, gender and background, can be introduced to a life on the water and then have the opportunities to keep sailing regularly at welcoming, inclusive clubs.

"Through OnBoard we feel we can keep even more young people sailing through regular, fun activity. OnBoard is a recognised standard of quality so children, and parents, know they will be receiving the best tuition in a safe, friendly environment. Now many of the parents have started wanting to learn to sail too!”

Becoming an OnBoard club has been on Rudyard Lake’s radar for some time, but it was only when volunteer Tricia retired last summer, and was available to cover after-school activities, that the club was able to get the programme up and running with help from other club volunteers.

The OnBoard sessions on Thursdays have resumed at Rudyard Lake SC now that the schools are back and more than half of the children had continued to sail during their summer holidays.

Gareth Brookes, RYA Regional Development Officer for the Midlands, said: “Rudyard Lake has been doing a lot of great work in getting more local people sailing regularly over the past 12 months and becoming an OnBoard club is a key part of that. 

“The lake is a safe piece of water ideal for young people to learn to sail, while being big enough and with enough variety to offer progression and excitement to go on to participate on a regular basis. We’re really looking forward to seeing lots of new youngsters enjoying the sport at Rudyard in the coming years.”

Rudyard Lake SC is a recognised RYA Training Centre, meaning it confirms to the highest standards of safety and quality.

RYA OnBoard has got an impressive track record – since its launch in 2005 over half a million kids have been introduced to sailing and windsurfing, with around 10 per cent taking up the sports on a regular basis. 

There are over 240 OnBoard clubs and centres nationwide, with several more having joined the programme in 2014.

To find out how your school or youth/community group can get involved in OnBoard or for other opportunities at Rudyard Lake SC visit www.rlsc.rudyardlakesc.org.uk