RB Blog - April 2022
Hi everyone,
Start of the 2022 season
It’s been good to hear that many of you have had very successful membership renewal periods and now that the spring/summer season is underway for many clubs, it’s been encouraging that clubs have adopted new activities. Whether these are weekday supported activities or Friday evening social sailing (what a good way to start the weekend!), it’s been brilliant to see everyone dusting off their summer wetsuits or donning their lighter weight oilies, let’s hope we have plenty of good weather ahead enabling us all to get afloat as much as we’d like.
Discover Sailing 2022
A number of clubs have signed up for Discover Sailing this year, the initiative developed from Push The Boat Out, and this is all about opening your doors to potential members through the provision of taster sessions or open days. Discover Sailing is supported throughout the summer months - we can help with promotion and provide you with free resources to assist you with your event. So, if you’re planning on running some tasters sessions or an open day this year but haven’t yet signed up, please have a look on the website for further information.
The Together Fund
Applications have also just opened for the Together Fund, which invites non-profit organisations and OnBoard and Sailability venues in England to apply for small grants for projects that connect with local communities. This is £195,000 of National Lottery Funding which has been awarded to the RYA as a continuation of the Tackling Inequalities Fund, focusing on projects which engage with Lower socio-economic groups; Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities; Disabled People and People with long term health conditions. Applications must be submitted before 31 July 2022. Find out more about eligibility and how to apply here.
Club Catch-ups
Over the coming weeks and months I am keen to get out in the region and visit your clubs, whether to meet new commodores or check-in and have a catch-up, discuss your specific challenges or how the RYA might be able to support you, please do let me know and we’ll look to find a mutually convenient date, hopefully on a nice warm sunny day when there’s plenty of activity (Robbie.bell@rya.org.uk).
Save the date
Thinking a little further ahead to the autumn, the East Region Affiliated Clubs Conference is scheduled for 26th November at the Royal Hospital School. I am involved in the working group planning these events and would very much like to hear from you about what content you would like to see on the agenda, please email me with any thoughts to Robbie.bell@rya.org.uk In addition, this year will see the return of the popular RYA East Cruising Conference, taking place on 27th November, also at the Royal Hospital School. Plans are shaping up well, there will be a range of workshop sessions, a number of exhibitors to engage with and opportunities to connect with cruising boaters from across the region, save the date now!
Keep in touch
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram - and keep sending us your stories of what’s been working well, and your initiatives to keep members engaged over the winter.
Robbie