Susie's Scoop September 2024

Hello,

As the summer season comes to an end, I hope everyone has enjoyed a productive few months. If the year hasn’t gone as planned (or if it was, forgive the pun, plain sailing) now is the perfect time to reflect, assess, and, most importantly, start planning for 2025.

South Connected

A perfect way to help you do this is by attending the upcoming RYA South Connected. This FREE event is taking place on 30 November at Itchen College, Southampton. The day promises a wealth of opportunities to connect with other clubs and learn from their experiences. It’s a fantastic chance to engage with fellow clubs and associations from the region, while RYA experts will be available to answer questions and lead focused workshops and presentations on a variety of topics.

Bookings are now open and with multiple sessions taking place at the same time we also encourage more than one person from each club. Book your place and read the full agenda here. Don’t miss out on this valuable event!

Winging

Over the past few months, I’ve been focused on exploring how the RYA can better support clubs and centres in our region. This includes fostering the growth of wing and foiling sports. Earlier this month, we held our inaugural Wing Development Day, and I’m thrilled to share that, despite the rain, over 20 participants gathered for an exceptional day of learning and skill development from OTC Watersports Centre amongst others.

Connecting people is vital in our sport, and the value of learning and supporting one another cannot be overstated. To facilitate this, I am creating a new South Region Winging WhatsApp group. If you’d like to join this community, please reach out to me or James Hardy (Jake.Hardy@rya.org.uk, South Sailing Developer). Additionally, a new OnBoard group will be launched soon. I’m also working on a development plan to provide even more support. Watch this space!

Regional workforce opportunities

I’m excited to announce the upcoming launch of a new initiative aimed at enhancing our region’s workforce. This initiative will focus on understanding the specific workforce needs of our affiliated clubs, allowing us to provide better support. I’m currently seeking volunteers who are interested in helping to bring this project to life. An Expression of Interest form for these roles will be available soon. In the meantime, if you’re interested, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

RYA Training Conference

The RYA Training Conference is invaluable for instructors, appointment holders and training centre principals. This dynamic event brings together industry professionals, instructors, and trainers to share best practice, innovative teaching techniques, and the latest developments in training resources. With a line up of engaging workshops, inspiring keynote speakers, and opportunities for networking, participants will gain fresh insights and ideas to enhance training programmes. Find out more here.

RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show

The RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show is a fantastic opportunity to discover the latest equipment, technology, and innovations, as well as hands-on experiences and valuable insights from experts. It's also a perfect chance to network with fellow clubs and sailors, and engage in workshops and talks that enhance skills and knowledge. Don’t miss the highlight of the season. Find out more here.

RYA Funding Finder

There has been a change in how you can access the online RYA Funding Finder. You now need to register to use the tool, but the process is straightforward. Just create an account through the Funding Finder and sign in. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out - I’m here to help. Find out more here.

And finally….

As reported last month, the RYA National Pathway Manager will soon be in contact with clubs who have already registered interest in the RYA Pathway Club initiative. If your club is interested in becoming an RYA Pathway club please do complete this form to express your interest. More info here. Although the final webinars in the Pathway Evolution Webinar Series have concluded, they are still available for viewing online here.

Until next time,

Susie