Cowes Sailability Club has received financial support from Sport England to help it resume its sailing and boating activities following the coronavirus pandemic.
Cowes Sailability Club’s plans to resume boating and sailing activities for adults and children with disabilities have received a welcome boost. Sport England has awarded the club a grant of £1,480 from its ‘Return to Play’ fund, which was set up to help groups in the sport and physical activity sector restart following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are incredibly grateful for this grant,” says Trish Rooke, Fundraising Officer at Cowes Sailability Club. “People with disabilities have had a difficult year and have really missed the opportunity to engage in outdoor sporting activities, meet new people and learn new skills.”
Comprising both government and National Lottery funding, the Sport England ‘Return to Play’ fund specifically aims to focus on tackling inequalities in activity that have worsened over the last six months.
“Many adults and children with disabilities and serious underlying medical conditions have had to self-isolate for long periods of time and consequently have really struggled with feelings of loneliness and poor mental health,” Trish says. “The grant from Sport England will help us to get back up and running again and give everyone with disabilities and long-term health conditions on the Isle of Wight something to look forward to.”
Cowes Sailability Club will use the grant to cover the cost of insurance policies and pay for new safety equipment. Assuming that the Government’s current roadmap for the easing of COVID-19 restrictions remains unchanged, the club plans to resume its activities for people with disabilities from 21st June 2021.
Sport England
Sport England is a public body and invests up to £300 million National Lottery and government money each year in projects and programmes that help people get active and play sport. It wants everyone in England, regardless of age, background, or level of ability, to feel able to engage in sport and physical activity.
Note: picture taken prior to the introduction of social distancing measures