A sailing club has been recognised for its commitment to accessibility on the water.
Arden Sailing Club in Defford, near Worcester, received the Royal Yachting Association’s Impact Award for its work to improve boating opportunities for people with disabilities and limited mobility.
The club launched a project to make sailing more accessible after identifying barriers faced by wheelchair users and those with mobility challenges, who are often unable to board smaller boats due to the lack of flat floors and the need for ramps or cranes.
To address these barriers, the club secured partial funding from the Wychavon Rural Fund, sponsored by the UK Government in partnership with Wychavon District Council, to help purchase an environmentally friendly, accessible boat.
The electric-powered vessel features a dropping ramp at the front and flat floors throughout.
The club still needs to raise £10,000 to cover the remaining costs and secure the long-term operation of the project.
The environmentally friendly boat has a dropping ramp at the front and flat floors throughout (Image: Arden Sailing Club)
In addition, the clubhouse is also built on a single level with full disabled facilities and good access from the main roads.
A spokesperson for Arden Sailing Club said: “We are in our second year of operation and have already carried in excess of a hundred people but are still looking to find more people who want to use the ‘Explorer’ boat.
“If you or your organisation can make use of this facility, or if you would like to help us fund the boat, then please contact us at www.explorerboat.co.uk.”
Located on the banks of the River Avon, the small, friendly club offers views of Bredon Hill to the south and the Malvern Hills to the west.
The river is home to a variety of wildlife, and the club says time spent on the water in this setting is ‘good for the soul’.
