RYA Northern Ireland calls on female boaters to take part in Women on Water workforce development survey

The governing body hopes to find out what boaters wantthrough a development survey, which will help to shape future programmes.

The Women on Water initiative began in 2016 allowing over500 female participants to get on the water and 12 clubs supporting theprogramme.

RYA Northern Ireland’s Active Clubs Co-Ordinator, LisaMcCaffrey, said: “To expand the Women on Water programme we want to find out aboutour boaters aspirations.  We are callingon as many female boaters as possible to complete the 10 minute survey so thatwe can find out exactly what will work best.

“The programme has been extremely successful over the lastthree years and we are now working on progressing Women on Water with the aimof developing our female workforce.  Wehope to provide a programme that helps support the development of RYAcoaches/officials and instructors.

“This is an exciting opportunity to assist our boatingcommunity with increasing their skills and qualifications.”

Over the last three years, participants of the Women onWater programme have had many achievements, including:

-A Women on Water LeaderGroup who organise and run a Women on Water Festival and help to support thedevelopment of the programme at clubs across Northern Ireland

- At Strangford Lough YachtClub, six women completed the Women on Water programme in June 2018 and went onto win the regatta series at their club in the same year

- Two Women on watergraduates were due to take part in their first GP14 class World Championship in2020

- One participant is goingon to become an Advanced Powerboat Instructor and

- Many of the graduatesregularly volunteer at their clubs on committees, as well as being raceofficials and providing event support.

Lisa added: “RYA Northern Ireland is asking for any femalethat is involved in boating in Northern Ireland to take part in the survey,whether you have been a lifelong boater, completed a Women on Water programmesince 2016 or a sailing course, we want to hear from you.”