Crosby Lakeside comes OnBoard
by Alan Henderson, RYA 16 Feb 2011 08:43 NZDT
Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre gets OnBoard (l to r) Mike Wardle and Chris Gaskin, both of the Centre, receive the OnBoard plaque from Luke Shaw, right © Alan Henderson / RYA
Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre is leading the way in bringing young people in to sailing and windsurfing in Merseyside, after being awarded the prestigious RYA OnBoard status by the sport’s national governing body.
OnBoard is the RYA’s nationwide grassroots scheme to provide youngsters from local schools, community and youth groups with opportunities to sail regularly at low cost and continue participating at specially-designated OnBoard clubs in their area.
Crosby Lakeside, in North Liverpool, has been working with RYA officials on gaining OnBoard status so that it can bring youngsters into the sport from an early age, while also giving their families the chance to take an active role in sporting activities.
Crosby Lakeside Principal Chris Gaskin said, “Becoming an RYA OnBoard centre of excellence will be of great help in giving youngsters from local schools good access to affordable sailing and windsurfing.”
Luke Shaw, RYA OnBoard Development Officer for Cheshire & Merseyside, added: “I’m delighted that Crosby Lakeside has joined the ranks of RYA OnBoard clubs. This brings the number of OnBoard qualified clubs and centres in the area to six, and so more and more kids will have the chance to get into sailing and windsurfing.”
Over 10 years OnBoard aims to introduce a minimum of 500,000 children to sailing and windsurfing in the UK, converting more than 10 per cent into regular participants.
Today brings sad news of the cancellation of the first Liverpool Boat Show, but grassroots initiatives like OnBoard will give many Liverpool youngsters the chance to learn the sports of sailing and windsurfing.
For more information on OnBoard in Merseyside & Cheshire contact Luke Shaw on 07753 863428 or visit www.ruob.co.uk . For more information about the many and varied sporting activities available at Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre, contact the Centre on 0151 966 6868 or go to www.crosbylakeside.co.uk