Islington Boat Club receives Tackling Inequalities grant

10 Dec 20
 

The grants are for projects that aim to tackle inequalities in sport and help reduce the negative impact of COVID-19.

The £150,000 of National Lottery Funding was awarded to the RYA from the Sport England Tackling Inequalities Fund which benefits organisations running projects that engage with lower socio-economic groups, ethnically diverse communities, disabled people and people with long term health conditions.

During its 50 years of existence IBC has developed programmes which provide personal and social development and work towards gaining skills, building confidence, team work and becoming more inclusive for people of all abilities, ages and walks of life.

IBC’s youth group targets young people from Islington and surrounding boroughs where poverty is a significant problem, with over a third of people living in poverty (33.7% compared to 27% across London). Child poverty is high in Islington and 32% of residents come from ethnically diverse communities (EDC).

Sarah Corcoran from IBC says: “Our youth group engages over 300 young people per year and works to instil in them determination and a real commitment to learning in order to improve their lives. This project is aiming to break down barriers that may be preventing more EDC individuals from attending the club and engaging in one of our long term programmes.”

Using the funding IBC will contact local schools to recruit participants for one of 10 taster sessions to introduce five young people from EDC backgrounds per session to the club through a narrow boating day, with the opportunity to sign up to one of two RYA sailing courses.

The project’s aims include increasing the number of EDC young people accessing the club, leading to regular and sustained participation with built-in pathways for progression, involving hard-to-reach, excluded young people, working with them to reach their full potential, and giving them opportunities to train as coaches and instructors, which will ultimately improve their employability.

RYA Director of Sport Development, Alistair Dickson concludes: “We’re delighted to be able to share this funding with so many deserving OnBoard and Sailability organisations. The venues selected are all going to be running fantastic projects and we look forward to hearing about the impact that they will have on the club or centre and on the underrepresented communities in which they aim to reach.” 

Find out more about the RYA Sailability RYA OnBoard programmes and IBC