Successful London and South East Affiliated Clubs Conference

Photo: RYA Regional Development Officer Steve Mitchell summarises the day, before going on to explain the periodic table of elements!

The event was a chance for delegates to meet face to face after last year’s virtual conference during the pandemic. To cover both options the RYA also ran a virtual version of the conference earlier in November.

A packed agenda included sessions on RYA club development resources and opportunities for the coming year, and a choice of workshops on retaining members, recruiting and retaining volunteers, facilities development, and legal and governance.

There was ample time during refreshments for delegates to network with others about experiences, problems and solutions, and at the end the chance to meet RYA staff and volunteers from the Regional Team.

Dickie Bird, Chair of the RYA Regional Team, said: “It was great to see so many people giving up their Sunday to attend. The workshops were very informative and thought provoking. A plus for me was to meet people from the region face to face at long last.”

Steve Smith from Maidenhead Sailing Club felt: “It was a great opportunity to meet other clubs that were facing or had faced the same challenges as several of the clubs I liaise with, and putting this in the context of where we are now and where (we think) we are going.

“Highlights for me were engaging with Sailability expertise that has ‘been there, done that’, the brief from Mandy Peters of RYA legal about incorporation and insurance issues - gold dust for some current committee deliberations, and finally the wide-ranging discussion ably facilitated by Rob Clark RYA Director of Sport Development about development planning and lessons learned.

“The big takeaway was that we are not alone; it became clear there are plenty of resources in the RYA Club Zone and between ourselves that will help us move forward in the collective members’ best interests …… and the premium biscuits went down well too!”

Roger Belton from Felpham Sailing Club summed up: “A very good event. Thank you to Steve (Mitchell, RYA Regional Development Officer) for hosting, and the RYA team did a brilliant job.”

Steve responded: "After our 2020 live event was cancelled owing to the pandemic it appears meeting face to face in order to network and learn from each other is as popular as ever. The importance of these events is apparent when I speak to clubs who have experienced growth at their club through applying the ideas and initiatives they have picked up, and also for the clubs who have only recently joined our events and have discovered how useful they are in assisting their club development. It was wonderful to see those who were able to make it."

The event once again dispelled the myth that there’s no such thing as a free lunch. And next year please remember, book early to avoid disappointment!