Yeadon Sailing Club to spend £2000 award to promote sport

Yeadon Sailing Club (YSC) was awarded £2000 after being announced as a runner-up in the national Sunsail Funding the Future competition.

The club was selected as one of three finalists from 61 submissions across the UK.

YSC has introduced a 'Pay What You Can' membership approach, which it has described as a great success.

But the scheme has also brought new challenges, as the club now attracts people from communities and groups with no sailing experience or family support to draw on.

The club considers it a challenge to retain attendees who might not have a family history of sailing or much sailing experience (Image: Supplied)

For a club run entirely by volunteers, this can be a "big challenge."

Tim Burnett, YSC membership secretary, said: "Winning this prize is a great help in our mission, and a big thank you to Sunsail, and well done to the other finalists.

"Our club volunteers have worked extremely hard this season helping new members, young and old, get out on the water for the first time.

"Like many other clubs, we’ve offered free taster sessions over the years - these are great ways to engage future members, but unless there is a drive or connection to sailing in your family, it's hard to get hooked.

"By lowering the bar to entry and trusting people to give what they can afford, we’re trying to work from the ground up and rebuild our community’s connection with sailing.

"It may take a few generations, but we’ve been around for nearly 100 years - hopefully we’ll be here for another 100!"

The club's free Tuesday training programme for members has proved popular, and a waiting list has been implemented to provide attendees with the best possible experience.

The club wants to help new members to progress as quickly as possible so that they can become the coaches and supporters of the future.

On a bittersweet note, YSC has also received funding from Denholm Sailing Club, which has had to close its doors and donate what money it had left to other clubs in the region.

YSC describes the closure as "a blow to grassroots sailing in our region."

YSC plans to share the lessons learned from its experience with the 'Pay What You Can' membership later this year, to inspire others to come up with new ways to make sailing more accessible.

More information about YSC, including how to sign up to the club's mailing list, can be found at https://yeadonsailingclub.co.uk/join/