Active Clubs Grants: How RYA Northern Ireland is supporting clubs to boost membership

RYA Northern Ireland provides funding to sailing clubs across Northern Ireland to help increase and retain membership

04 Jun 24

Ahead of a busy season of sailing and boating in Northern Ireland, we want to work with clubs as closely as possible to increase and retain their membership numbers.

Unfortunately, in 2023, we saw membership decrease by 0.9% so it is especially important for clubs to look at their membership insights and listen to their members' needs if they wish to retain their members.

We understand some of the most common challenges within our sport are lack of funding, diversity of participants, and participation retention. The aim of the Active Clubs Programme is to empower people to get out on the water by supporting clubs.

The Active Clubs Programme gave up to £500 of support to 11 clubs across 16 programmes to help support sailing and boating among:

Women and Girls
People with a disability
Youth sailing and boating
Rural communities

Clubs who benefitted from the Active Clubs Programme

Ballyholme Yacht Club – Women on Water

Ballyronan Boat Club – Women on Water

Belfast Lough Sailability- Discover Sailability, Sailability race coaching programme

Carrickfergus Sailing Club - OnBoard, Junior Race training, Women on Water

Cushendall Sailing and Boating Club – Junior Coaching Sessions

East Down Yacht Club – Junior Coaching Sessions

Killyleagh Yacht Club, OnBoard Programme

Lough Neagh Sailing club – Keelboat Programme

Newcastle Yacht Club – Junior and Adult Sailing Programme

Portaferry Sailing Club – Junior Give it a go Programme

Strangford Sailing Club – Junior & Adult Training Programme, Women on Water

What’s next for the Active Clubs Programme?

We’re delighted to provide the amount of funding we have done so far and we want to ensure that we invest in the right areas going forward.

Every club is different, with different needs, so we want to work closely with clubs around the country to figure out the best strategy for the future.

So that we can do this effectively, please get in touch with our Active Clubs Coordinator, Lisa McCaffery by calling 07788238083 or emailing lisa.mccaffrey@rya.org.uk .

Funding is just a small part of the support RYA Northern Ireland provides to clubs and Lisa is excited to work closely with clubs, providing tailored support to help their growth.

She said: “Members surveys, chatting with members and running programmes for both members and non-members is really valuable to retain participation and the Active Clubs programmes supports these goals.

“I am super excited to get out to the clubs and chat with the participants and volunteers involved in these programmes and see the progression of the participants.”