Volunteers at Cowes Sailability Club have been honing their powerboating, first aid and disability awareness skills through training courses funded by a Magic Little Grant.

Cowes Sailability Club has expanded its training programme for volunteers, with funding from a Magic Little Grant.  As a result, those people who play a vital role in helping to run sailing and boating excursions for people with disabilities have been able to attend courses in areas such as powerboat helming, first aid and disability awareness.

“It is absolutely critical for us to provide plenty of training opportunities for those people who volunteer regularly for the club,” says Mike Duke, Cowes Sailability Club’s Training Officer.  “It is through their commitment and expertise that we are able to make sailing and boating activities accessible to adults and children who have physical disabilities and debilitating long-term illnesses.”

He adds: “We are incredibly grateful for the Magic Little Grant we received as a result of the partnership between Localgiving and Postcode Community Trust, a grant-giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.  This funding has allowed us to heavily subsidise relevant training courses and encourage our volunteers to develop their skills and competencies.”

The Magic Little Grant of £500 has allowed one volunteer to gain the RYA powerboat level II qualification, so that he can helm Cowes Sailability Club’s patrol boat, Zebedee II.  Other volunteers have been able to attend courses including first aid, risk management, fundraising techniques and disability awareness.