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| Project Manager Roberta Buchanan gets the the thumbs up from Newbiggin by the Sea Sailing Club Youth Squad |
Making a Splash at Newbiggin Sailing Club...
Saturdays are becoming a bit different in Newbiggin by the Sea. Changes are taking place, especially on the sea shore. Many young children in their bright blue and red splash suits and their buoyancy aids strapped to their chests take to the water to go sailing in their little boats. Its the Newbiggin by the Sea Sailing Club taking to the water for the Youth Squad Sessions!
Newbiggin by the Sea Sailing Club has just completed a refurbishment and extension of
its premises in Bridge Street which now allows more youngsters to participate in sailing on a regular basis.
The club now has male, female and disabled changing facilities on the ground floor together with training rooms and a club office for the Water Based Sports Development Officer who is affectionately called the WADO.
On the top floor of the club there is a viewing area where parents can watch their youngsters enjoy sailing. The club even has rooms that other organisation can use for a small fee.
The club has been redesigned to give maximum opportunity to people who wish to give sailing a try and has the infrastructure to let you try for a minimum cost for the first three weeks you attend the Youth Squad.
Investment has been put into safety equipment, splash suits and Topper training dinghy's together with other craft for the more advanced and while its called the Youth Squad session the training team consider anyone from 8 to 80 to qualify for training.
Over a 4 year period the club has brought a considerable amount of investment into Newbiggin by the Sea and the final brick in the wall is the employment of a full time Sports Development Officer who will be responsible for increasing the amount of sailing activity in Newbiggin Bay and at the QEII park.
This post has been possible through a partnership between the club and Wansbeck District Council Sports Development Department who have put
in a lot of time and effort to ensure the project will be successful.
The club has also invested in training instructors so that anyone coming to participate is trained to an internationally recognised standard and will be able to follow a training scheme if they so wish. The also have trained members who drive the safety boats when anyone is on the water.
So if you want to come and give it a try or you want to bring your children along the club welcomes you on a Saturday morning to come and see a volunteer just for a chat, or if you want to get on the water bring a change of clothing and some old trainers.
You can participate to whatever level you want, join as a helper in the canteen, learn to sail and then become an instructor, just sail a boat for enjoyment or even train to be an Olympic champion! Its all available at Newbiggin by the Sea Sailing Club.
