Registered Charity No: 1107119
WHO IS THE LRYSA?
The Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Sailing Association (LRYSA) was founded in 1967 operating from John Merrick’s Lake (Charnwood), Hinckley Wharf (Hinckley) and Bosworth Water Trust (Market Bosworth). The purpose of the LRYSA has always been to make water sports accessible and affordable to all sections of the community taking away the high costs and elitism of private clubs. We do this by charging no membership fee, providing all boats and equipment by fund raising ourselves, and by providing free instruction by our fully qualified volunteer instructors and coaches.
The LRYSA is a charity run wholly by unpaid volunteers (currently aged between 14 to 72) who are trained to the high standard set by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and all of its activities are governed by the standards and requirements of the RYA and of the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) and all DBS checked.
Courses / Activities and who we reach …
Schools Training: 15 Leicestershire Schools in 2014 (from Syston to Hinckley) - Stage 1 + 2 Sailing and Canoeing
Dorothy Goodman School: Wide range of Learning Difficulties - Stage 1 Sailing
Vista: Sight loss / The Blind - Stage 1 sailing
Mossaic: Severe disabilities - Basic water sports
Green Towers: Hard to reach / damaged backgrounds - Bell Boating and Team Building
General Mixed learning difficulties/physical impairments -Stage 1 sailing
Saturday morning Kids Club: for beginners of all abilities
Adult Sailing: Level 1 + 2
Advanced race training
Leicestershire Youth Racing Team: coaching and management. This is the only youth racing team representing Leicestershire nationally
Power boat/ safety boat training
Sailing Instructor training and qualifications (Assistant Instructors from 14 years +)
Racing coach training and qualifications
Organising and running local and national regattas
Who Benefits ?
Young people and adults from all backgrounds and abilities. (The Race Team currently has 1 child with 50% sight, 2 with anorexia, 1 with autism and 1 with juvenile arthritis)
People on low income
People with low self esteem
People that have become isolated from society
People with dysfunctional families
People from areas of deprivation (including a number of schools in the 7 disadvantaged wards)
People recovering emotionally from mental illness issues
Sailors who want to progress on to become instructors, coaches and racing coaches
Sailors who want to progress to national and international competition
All of our sailors will have access to safe and usable equipment
Potential Outcomes
The potential impact of our activities for children and families attending our sessions ...
Promote Good Health and wellbeing and just having fun in the fresh air!
Provide a challenge by learning and developing new skills including working as a Team
Increase self-confidence, motivation and general self-worth
Improve communication / social interaction / comprehension / awareness skills
Provide the opportunity to gain RYA approved qualifications (with certificates) to gain a real sense of achievement
Provide an opportunity to become part of the race team (representing Leicestershire at national events)
Provide the opportunity to train as an instructor and volunteer their time to help others
Provide an environment where families can work together - parents & guardians are invaluable in the running of the LRYSA
Some of our recent Awards / Achievements …
LCC / 2006: Best Schools Participation
LCC / 2007: Award of Excellence
LRS / 2007: Club of the Year
LCC / 2008: Most improved Sport Association
RYA / 2008: Community Award
LRS / 2009: Club of the Year
LCC / 2010: Most improved sports association
LRS / 2010: Award of Excellence
LCC / 2011: John Buckingham Award
LRS / 2012: Club of the Year
HBBC / 2013: Community Award
RYA / 2013: Onboard
RYA / 2014: Sailability (disabled sailing)
Many more awards have been presented to our volunteers and sailors over the years including a special award in 2013. Our principal was awarded BBC East Midlands Sports Unsung Hero for 50 years volunteering for the disadvantaged.
Many of the young people who begin with us around the age of 9 or 10 continue with us until they are adults, and pursue careers from their experiences with the LRYSA. One example is Mike Wood who began as a novice sailor aged 9 in 2005. Over the years Mike progressed on to become our racing team captain, and in 2010 became Topper World Champion. Although Mike qualified for the 2016 Olympics in Rio he was unable to secure enough funding to take part.
Other successful careers begun with the LRYSA include Sports Science, Isle of White Cadetships, the Royal Navy, within the RYA and 2 of our former students now run water sports centres in Hull and Cornwall.