Volunteers help disabled get on the water

Kerehi and Richard going sailing, thanks to the efforts of Sailability.

Tauranga's Sailability is looking to boost their supporter numbers to help them get more people with disabilities on the water.

The volunteer-based charitable trust offers opportunities to members of the disabled community to experience the ‘adventure and freedom' of sailing, giving them the chance to increase their mobility, self-confidence, and pride in knocking off a challenge.

Able-bodied volunteers are needed to accompany them, so to help recruit the numbers they need to expand their operations Sailability are holding a volunteer information and training day on Saturday August 11.

For many boaties there's nothing better than giving others the opportunity to experience the joys of sailing, and if those others are challenged by disabilities it's all the more rewarding.

Sailability's Club Captain Rhonda Ritchie says they've recently realised many more people could benefit from the service they offer.

'There is huge potential to increase our number of sailors. 27 per cent of the Bay of Plenty population has a disability of some description – that's over 60,000 people.

'They are serviced by about 40 support organizations. At present we engage with only six, which on average send five sailors along.”

Their goal in the next twelve months is to hook up with 20 of these organizations, says Rhonda.

'This will take our number of regular sailors to 100 or more.

In order to meet the increased demand and spread the workload around more Sailability is looking to double their current volunteer number.

'These volunteers do not all have to be sailors,” Rhonda says, as Sailability will get them up to speed with the requirements.

'We do have to ensure they are familiar with our safety and risk management policies, comfortable working with people with disabilities, can communicate other than verbally, and can operate our equipment correctly.

'These subjects will be covered at our training day.”

The information and training day is open to anyone interested in either sailing with Sailability or volunteering.

The Sailability information and training day is Saturday August 11, from 10am to 3pm.

If you are keen to attend, register by emailing volunteers.stct@gmail.com

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