Cowes Sailability Club’s cheery volunteers have been fitting out the club’s four boats and brushing up their skills in training courses, ready for the start of the 2017 sailing season.
Throughout March and April, volunteers from Cowes Sailability Club attended a range of training courses to ensure that they are well prepared to provide safe and accessible sailing and boating excursions this summer. Courses included first aid, disability awareness, VHS hand-held radio operation and emergency procedures, with up to 14 participants in each session.
In tandem, volunteers have been working hard to maintain, clean and fit out the club’s four boats, getting them ready for their first sailings in early May. Volunteers have also attended a series of ‘Start of Season Briefings’, when plans are made for specific events and group excursions.
“Springtime is always busy for our volunteers, be it scheduling, visiting our group clients, checking through our policies and procedures, getting our boats ready for the season or undertaking training – and this year has been no exception,” says Patrick de Peyer, Commodore of Cowes Sailability Club. “I am incredibly grateful to everyone who gives up their time to help Cowes Sailability Club create wonderful experiences for people with disabilities.”
He adds, “Training is essential for volunteers’ continued development and the safety of our members. Courses can be expensive, so the club does all it can to cover or heavily subsidise training fees, either from our own funds or through grants, so that cost is no barrier to becoming fully involved as a volunteer.”
Would you like to join our friendly team? Click here to find out more about volunteering.
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