Rickmansworth Sailing Club receives major grants

Rickmansworth Sailing Club presented with a grant cheque © Michael Haigh / RYA

Rickmansworth Sailing Club, which sails on Troy Lake, West Hyde, Rickmansworth, celebrated receiving more that £50,000 in grants during a reception at the club on 23 September 2012.

Some of the grants are from the £135m "Places People Play" Olympic legacy programme including £32,000 from the Sport England Inspired Facility Fund, and £10,000 from The National Lottery Sport England Fund.

The £32,000 grant has been used to replace old pontoons, used to get in and out of boats, with a modern plastic modular system, and also went towards the cost of re-decking the main access bridge. Two new dinghies, which will allow local people to try sailing and have sailing lessons, have been bought with the £10,000 grant topped up with additional funds from the club.

In addition the RYA Small Grants Programme has awarded £2,000, matched by £2,000 from club funds, which has been be used for a new set of racing marks and help towards the cost of new boats.

The Environment Agency, Three Rivers District Council and Hertfordshire County Council Community Grants Budget have between them awarded nearly £6,000 for the bridge re-decking, the Co-operative Group has provided nearly £500 for new buoyancy aids, and Volvo Cars Watford £375 for VHF radios for safety and race management.

Television presenter Richard Simmonds was MC for the event and told of growing up at the club, describing it as a rock for the family and the community, before joking about the former facilities: "The pontoons weren't so much off the back of a lorry, they were the back of a lorry, and the bridge was driftwood!"

The clubs' grants officer and past commodore Martin Smethers described the best and worst moments of the project: "The worst was the three months wait to hear if we had been successful, the best was receiving a call from Sport England and a letter from the National Lottery to say their grants had been awarded."

Councillor Kemal Butt, Chairman of Three Rivers District Council, together with Sport England funding officer Libby Jones, presented the National Lottery Sport England cheque for £10,000.

Councillor Butt said visiting the club was like coming into a family: "It's a real part of the community and every member does something for the club. I've been invited to come sailing here, and I hope my three boys may take an interest in sailing and become part of the club."

David Gauke, Exchequer Secretary and MP for South West Hertfordshire described how he grew up within his local cricket club, said it had been a great summer for sport and reiterated the sense of community within the club. He and Libby Jones then presented the cheque for £32,000 from the Sport England Inspired Facility Fund, which is part of the "Places People Play" Olympic legacy programme.

Club commodore Paul Johnson said: "I'm astonished, amazed and absolutely delighted that the club has received these grants. My sincere thanks to all for the money and time you have invested in the club. The club is a real bedrock in the community and I'm grateful to the RYA and others for recognising this."

RYA sailing development officer for London Steve Mitchell worked with the club starting in February this year to advise on club development and availability of grants. Steve said: "Whilst I can provide guidance, it needs committed individuals in a club to focus on funding and make the process happen. Martin Smethers and his team did just that and raised this very significant sum in only five months.

"The new facilities make the club more attractive, welcoming and safe for existing and new members. They provide a great basis for further development, and I look forward to working with the club on that."

Richard Simmonds rounded off the presentation with an invitation: "Come and party - it's all happening at a lake near you!"

Other local organisations which use the club's facilities and will benefit from the improvements include U3A, Royal Life Saving Society, Batchworth Dragon Boat Club and local angling groups.

For more information on Rickmansworth Sailing Club visit www.rscsailing.org

For more information on how the RYA can help with sailing and boating club development, including finding funding, visit www.rya.org.uk/infoadvice/clubsclass/development/Pages/default.aspx