We will create a volunteering programme to encourage local residents, particularly from Ladywood, to support a weekly programme of free Watersports activities for adults and children with disabilities. No previous Watersports experience is required as volunteers will be working alongside trained instructors and most activities will be land based.
During the week, we run free sailing, windsurfing and paddleboarding activities for groups of adults with physical and learning disabilities and the visually impaired, we also have drop-in sessions for individuals who are not part of an organised group. We run a similar programme for children on Sunday mornings.
Recruiting, training and supporting volunteers during their first few months is a skilled job and needs dedicated time. This project plans to recruit a part-time Volunteer Coordinator to kick-start the project. We will provide all the necessary training free of charge to the volunteers.
What we'll deliver:
- Recruit, train and support up to 30 volunteers
- Run 5 weekly free Watersports activity sessions for adults and children with disabilities
- Create an active and self-sustaining volunteer led programme that widens access to Watersports in Ladywood
Why it's a great idea:
A new volunteering programme will be created enabling local residents to get involved in something unique and help local adults and children with a disability. Our target audiences are:
Local residents living close to the Reservoir
The recently retired
Students on health, social care or sports degrees living locally
Young adults seeking volunteering experience to help increase their job opportunities
Refugees and asylum seekers
People who volunteered for the Commonwealth Games
Family and friends of the disabled participants
Being part of a structured volunteering programme will enable the volunteers to make new friends and be part of an outdoor activity and have fun!
Some may wish to undertake some accredited learning and we can train them to become Assistant Instructors and to drive the Safety Boat too.
The project will enable us to expand our activities for adults and children with disabilities, meaning more people can take part on a weekly basis and keep the sessions free.
Steps to get it done:
- Launch project - June 2023
- First set of volunteers start - July 2023
- Second set of volunteers start - September 2023
- Third set of volunteers start - March 2024
- Continual real-time evaluation of project and seeking feedback throughout
We are located at Edgbaston Reservoir in Ladywood, often described as Birmingham’s Hidden Gem, and located just over a mile from the city centre. It is a Local Nature Reservoir and a wonderful setting as it is very tranquil and beautiful. Simply being in such a space brings a wide range of Health and Wellbeing benefits for the volunteers as well as participants in the Watersports activities.
Across the country lots of Sailing Clubs run ‘Sailability’ activities using volunteers, and most have taken years to build up successful projects. We already have all the boats and equipment and some trained staff and this is ideal as volunteers can immediately be active and contribute to helping more adults and children with disabilities enjoy being on the water.
We are an accredited RYA Training Centre, Sailability and On-board Centre, which means we can teach people with disabilities and children. We are inspected annually by the RYA and have detailed Adult and Children Safeguarding Polices.
