In April 2013 Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Sailing Association (LRYSA) successfully secured £938.00 via the Community Foundation from Red Nose Day Community Cash.
LRYSA work to promote water sports among all sections of the community, making it accessible and affordable. They aim to remove the elitist concept of water sports and sailing and the high costs of private clubs. The group doesn’t charge membership fees and provides all equipment such as safety boats, sailing boats and wet suits. This is all done through fundraising and volunteer help.
Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Sailing Association instruct both youth and adult groups, from beginners to advanced training and competition standard. The funding secured from Red Nose Day was used to cover some instructor time and to purchase a laptop and projector for training sessions. The equipment has been used in theory classes to help teach the many technical and complex aspects of sailing.
As a result of the equipment the group has been able to deliver a more dynamic training programme, incorporating those with learning difficulties and dyslexia and this has led to a real increase in knowledge, confidence and ability in all users.
Through the provision of free tuition the LRYSA have been able to provide training and sailing experience to disadvantaged young people who would not usually have had the opportunity. Jill Magee secretary at LRYSA said, ‘many of these young people have proved to be very talented.’
You can find more information on Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Sailing Association here: http://www.lrysa.org.uk/
If you would like to help Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Sailing Association or any other charities working in your local community, contact the Community Foundation on 0116 2624 916.