Scottish Club Chat April 2024
It is great to see the early season activity: club workdays, taster sessions, boats being painted and craned in. These are surely positive signs for an enjoyable and successful season afloat.
Loch Broom Sailing Club is now a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), joining a growing list of sailing clubs who are already registered as charities. Commodore Paul Copestake says:
“The benefits are many. Though the club is small, we are looking forward to an active summer. We have a strong and growing dinghy group for all ages, a small but competitive group of Flying Fifteens, a wide-ranging cruising section and our own coastal rowing skiff. Sailing in the west at its best!”
If you would like to learn more about your club becoming a SCIO, please reach out to your RYA Scotland Regional Development Officer.
The final RYA Scotland Regional Training Day (dinghy) will be held at Skye Sailing Club. This is an opportunity for instructors, racing coaches, as well as club, centre and Sailability volunteers to level up their practical skillset and meet likeminded sailors in their region.
Session leaders embrace a person-centred approach to training, dedicated to coaching the individual in front of them, taking into consideration any specific competences or challenges. Spaces are limited, so register today.
The RYA Scotland Connect Calls are opportunities to converse with your peers and the Development Team on a range of topics and to raise any questions you may have. The next call will discuss Creating an Engaging Racing Scene on 1 May at 7PM via Zoom. Register now for free. Please share your suggestions for further topics with the Development Team.
A Windsurfing Race Coach Level 2 course will be held at Queen Mary Sailing Club in Ashford on 11-12 May. These courses don’t run frequently, so please book now if this is of interest to you.
RYA’s Discover Sailing campaign provides clubs with physical and online resources, helping them get more people on the water. Register your club today and get support in delivering a successful event for new, returning, or even existing sailors. By running a Discover Sailing day, you could help future sailors discover a lifelong passion.
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RYA Scotland may also support your event! RYA Scotland is aiming to provide support to several clubs/centres in running first-time opportunity events such as open days, tasters, or transition days. The support offered will be bespoke, based on the request, RYA Scotland’s available resources, and follow-up conversations. Register your interest today.
On Course for the Future is RYA Scotland’s new development framework for RYA-affiliated clubs and centres. The framework is comprised of several guides to help you continue to develop and effectively steer the direction of your organisation. Explore the document yourself or with your fellow leaders; then reach out to your Regional Development Officer to discuss how and where to get started with it.
What is happening at your club or centre? Our Development Team is here to support you, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you need help. But we also want to hear about your successes and even ordinary stuff. Email us (Development@RYAScotland.org.uk) or tag RYA Scotland on social media. We would also love to know if you are planning a Discover Sailing or another first time opportunity in 2024.
Looking for Rules Advice? Craig Evans is available to give club or classes rules talks or to advise on rules issues, Notice of Race or Sailing Instructions for events. There is a requirement for travel expenses to be reimbursed up to a maximum of £80 with any additional fees being covered by the RYA. Craig can be contacted by email at ryasrulesadvisor@gmail.com or by phone on 07714 125381
We want to see even more deserving people recognised through our RYA Scotland Impact Awards in 2024. Nominations are open year-round for you to put forward those who make a difference to your boating. Whether that’s an inspirational person, team, or organisation – we want to hear from you! Get involved now – your nomination could become cause for celebration! View previous winners on the RYAS YouTube Channel.
£14M is now available through Marine Fund Scotland 2024-2025. From Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Mairi Gougeon, the funding will “help deliver Scotland’s Blue Economy Vision, which sets out plans to transform the way the marine environment is used and how Scotland’s ‘blue’ resources are managed. The funding is available to a wide range of eligible individuals, businesses, organisations and communities to deliver projects that contribute to an innovative and sustainable marine economy, support coastal communities, and contribute to Scotland’s net zero ambitions.”
Here are a few other funding options to consider:
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RYA Scotland Class Grants, supporting training, events, and regatta attendance in Scotland
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National Lottery Awards for All Scotland (Please ensure your RDO is aware of any application for this funding as they will likely be consulted during the review process)
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Bruce Wake Charitable Trust, for the provision of leisure activities for people with physical disabilities
All the best from The Development Team – Laura, Brian, Rhys, Liza & Naseef
8/4/2024