2024 marks RNLI’s 200th year of lifesaving! In celebration and commemoration, they are sharing 200 stories of kindness, courage and pride from supporters, volunteers, and those they’ve rescued through their 200 Voices Podcast. Learn how you can get involved in the celebration and their work.
Cove Sailing Club is to be awarded over £400,000! The club, which just months ago was established as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation, was successful in their application to the Community Ownership Fund from the UK government. This will allow them to rebuild their clubhouse, creating “an open and accessible modern space that will not only provide wider opportunities for water sports training and events, but also broader community activities.” (Wells Grogan, Commodore) Congratulations to the club and the community!
We want to celebrate more of our organisations too. We want to hear the good stuff – share your great stories and successes with us. Email us or tag RYA Scotland on social media. Perhaps in February, you might use the sportscotland theme #TrySomethingNew, if it fits. We would also love to know if you are planning a Discover Sailing or another open event in 2024.
sportscotland’s first #SportHour for 2024 will be LIVE on X (formerly Twitter) Monday 4 March, 9-10PM with a theme of women and girls in sport, #activegirls. Join in the conversation.
The RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show will be back in Farnborough on 24-25 February. RYA members can attend for free! The event will feature dinghy sailing, windsurfing, wingsurfing, foiling and paddleboarding, including interactive family fun, displays and demonstrations, and live coaching sessions.
Two Scotland clubs are RYA Club of the Year finalists! Clyde Cruising Club is among the Active Club of the Year finalists, and Royal Tay Yacht Club is in the Green Club of the Year category. Well done, and best of luck to both clubs! Winners will be announced at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show.
We want to see even more deserving people recognised through our RYA Scotland Impact Awards in 2024. Nominations are open year-round for you to put forward those who make a difference to your boating. Whether that’s an inspirational person, team, or organisation – we want to hear from you! Get involved now – your nomination could become cause for celebration! View previous winners on the RYAS YouTube Channel.
Learn, share, and grow at RYAS’ Connected Scotland which will be held on Saturday the 2nd of March 2024 at the Dewars Centre, Perth. If you are part of an RYA-affiliated club, centre, association, or the wider boating community within Scotland, please plan to attend. The comprehensive agenda will provide ample opportunities to hear about and discuss a wide variety of topics relating to going afloat in Scotland. Book your space now. Under 25s book for FREE with the code young-25.
The RYA Scotland Connect Calls are opportunities to converse with your peers and the Development Team on a range of topics and to raise any questions you may have. Our final call of the winter series will be on the 6th of March, discussing Key Messages from RYAS’ Connected Scotland. Please share your suggestions for further topics with the Development Team.
The RYA affiliation criteria are changing. From the next affiliation cycle in April 2024, the RYA will be asking all new and existing affiliates to commit to working toward revised affiliation criteria for 2025. The changes in the criteria will include actions relating to safeguarding, health and safety and inclusion. Affiliates should have received instructions for logging into a new RYA Affiliation Portal (hosted on Just Go) to support this process. If your organisation has not received these instructions or you have other questions, please send a message to affiliation@rya.org.uk. Here are some helpful FAQs. A key point to remember is that the only new requirement for this affiliation period is to answer the questions through the new portal. No other actions are required.
Recognise and remove! In sport, it’s important to recognise instances where a concussion occurs and to remove the potential risks associated with it. If you suspect that someone might have a sailing concussion, remove them from the water and get them checked over by a medical professional.
Here are a few funding options to consider:
- National Lottery Awards for All Scotland (Please ensure your RDO is aware of any application for this funding as they will likely be consulted during the review process.)
- Tesco Community Grants
- The Weir Charitable Trust (closing date is the end of February 2024)
- Bruce Wake Charitable Trust, for the provision of leisure activities for people with physical disabilities
- The Sportsman’s Charity
- Nature Restoration Fund
Please do not hesitate to make contact if you have questions or areas where we might be able to support. Send us a message at Development@RYAScotland.org.uk.
All the best from The Development Team – Laura, Brian, Rhys, Liza & Naseef
12/2/2024