The Guernsey Sailing Trust, a charity providing sailing, powerboating and other water-based learning, delivers lessons to around 2,500 pupils each year, including through Guernsey schools, after school clubs, community and outreach groups and via holiday courses.
The Committee for Education, Sport & Culture has provided grant funding for the trust to deliver learning for schools, which includes enabling pupils to work towards recognised RYA-accredited qualifications. A service level agreement between the two has been renewed for a further five years.
Last year the trust delivered 4,608 school sessions for every school in the islands, including 523 ‘Sailability’ sessions, a bespoke programme that enables people with disabilities to get involved in sailing through the utilisation of specialist equipment.
Last year the trust also employed more than 60 young people under 21 to support the delivery of the programme, and accommodated young people volunteering under the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
The agreement was secured by the previous committee, said new president Paul Montague.
‘Through this agreement, all pupils are benefitting from a variety of experiences – from navigation, to sailing on the pond, then progressing from sheltered water to taking boats out on the sea,’ he said.
‘Sailing is a brilliant way for young people to help develop transferable skills, gain accredited qualifications, and enjoy the beautiful outdoor environment our island offers us. I look forward to seeing our learners continue to benefit from this partnership over the next five years.’
Guernsey Sailing Trust principal Sarah Creasey said: ‘Providing boating opportunities to young people in Guernsey is at the very heart of the Guernsey Sailing Trust. Being able to offer free tuition to young people helps ensure they can benefit from the experience and develop important skills associated with living on an island such as water confidence, safety, environmental awareness and more transferable attributes such as independence, teamwork and resilience.
‘Many of the students who first experience sailing with the trust go on to attend further courses, with a significant number gaining instructor qualifications and later employment with the trust.
‘This helps develop valuable life skills including public speaking, confidence and group management.’
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