Midlands clubs keen to boost their membership are invited to borrow RYA event trailers for their open days or to make the most of high footfall shows and festivals.
The RYA Midlands regional team has two trailers, each containing an RYA-branded gazebo, flags and leaflets, to help clubs raise awareness about their activities.
In addition, one of the trailers is equipped with a fully-rigged Fusion dinghy mounted on a swivel stand to inspire children with an opportunity to ‘try sailing’.
Clubs and centres in previous years have found the trailers particularly useful for attending local shows and festivals as a means of promoting boating and membership opportunities, along with their upcoming open days, taster sessions and ‘learn to sail’ courses.
Some have found an effective way of generating interest with the trailers at high footfall events is to have ‘special offers’ and sign-ups available, enabling people to register for a club activity or an open day, which ideally might be timed to take place one or two weeks later.
Big events in the Midlands region in 2024 which clubs may find useful for raising their profile include:
- Buxton Spring Festival, 6 May 2024
- Staffordshire County Show, 25-26 May 2024
- Rutland County Show, 2 June 2024
- Three Counties Show, Malvern, 14-16 June 2024
- Nottingham Riverside Festival, 2-4 August 2024 (provisional)
- Leicestershire County Show, 25-26 August 2024
Peter Smerdon, Secretary of the RYA Midlands Regional Volunteer Team, sums up: “If you need to increase club membership and promote your activities or an open day, then the answer may be to utilise a local high-footfall public event with one or other of the region’s event trailers. Or, run an event at your club, again utilising one of our RYA event trailers.”
Next steps
The trailers are available free of charge to clubs and centres in the RYA Midlands region.
If you would be interested in borrowing one for either a local high footfall event or for your own open day or event, contact RYA Midlands Regional Volunteer Team Secretary Peter Smerdon with the name of your club/centre and the date and details of the event you are hosting or wish to attend.
Additional resources are available via the RYA Discover Sailing hub, which includes access to event checklists and promotional materials such as poster and social media templates.
The Discover Sailing shop is also now open for 2024, with RYA Affiliated clubs invited to order up to £75 worth of free promotional materials. Visit RYA Discover Sailing.