A crowning achievement for Exmouth charity - King's Award presented to Exe Sailability Project
by Abi Eskriett 15 Aug 06:09 PDT
11 August 2025
A proud moment - King's Award presented to Exe Sailability Project © Tom Hurley
The Exe Sailability Project, which provides access to sailing for disadvantaged people, has been presented with The King's Award for Voluntary Service by the Rear Admiral Chris Snow.
Based at the Exe Sailing Club in Exmouth, volunteers from the Exe Sailability Project were presented with the prestigious award crystal and certificate by Rear Admiral Chris Snow at a special ceremony. Becky Brooks, one of the blind members of the sailing team and Chair of the Executive Committee, received the award on behalf of the Sailability volunteers.
Founded in 2007, the Exe Sailability Project provides disadvantaged people access to sailing and powered vessels, giving individuals and groups the opportunity to experience a unique sailing experience. As a supporter of the Exe Sailing Club, it was Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope who nominated the Project for the award after he recognised the value volunteers from the Exe Sailing Club bring to the local community.
The King's Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK; the equivalent of an MBE. The special presentation event allowed those involved in the Exe Sailability Project to come together and celebrate this significant achievement, with attendees including the Exe Sailing Club's commissioning groups, committee members, sponsors, supporters and Club members.
After the presentation, students from The Deaf Academy put on a spectacular display as they took to the water to embark on their annual regatta. The regatta showed off all the hard work that the students had put in during the year, with twelve of them being presented with RYA Certificates of Achievement. It was a demonstration in line with the Exe Sailing Club's ethos of how it is ability that counts, not disability.
Becky Brooks, one of the blind members of the sailing team and Chair of the Executive Committee, received the award on behalf of the Sailability volunteers. Brooks commented: "Sailability is a great opportunity to get out and try something new, and I encourage everyone, if you like being in or on the water, to have a go. Sailability gave me that opportunity, and I have had such a great experience. I now help the management team make sure that we continue to focus on ability, not disability.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank every single person who dedicates their time to The Exe Sailability Project. Without our dedicated volunteers at the Club, there would be no Sailability, so for that, I thank you. A special thanks also goes to Noble Marine, who have recently committed to sponsoring us for the next three years, ongoing sponsors, Round Table and Exe Sails, for their continued support, and contributors Devon County Council and the Gibbons Trust."
Nick Smith, Co-ordinator of Sailability at Exe Sailing Club, commented: "At the Exe Sailing Club, it's our mission to open barriers, providing access to sailing to disadvantaged people in our community. Our language is about ability, not disability, and we have seen with our own eyes the incredible power sailing has to improve people's lives."
Further thanks were added by Stallcombe Community near Woodbury, Devon: "Thank you for all that Sailability at Exe Sailing Club do to facilitate the wonderful sessions enjoyed by the people we support here at Stallcombe Community. Congratulations on your award, very well deserved."
Since it was founded, the Exe Sailability Project has helped 5,000 sailors with 100 volunteers delivering nearly 7,000 hours of Sailability lessons each season. In 2024 alone, the Project accommodated 523 sailors over 220 sessions from April to September.
Organisations that benefit from Sailability include The Deaf Academy; Mill Water School; SW Care Homes and Young Carers as well as individuals. Sailors have the opportunity to achieve a range of Sailability certificates, with some progressing to the Royal Yachting Association's (RYA) 1 and 2 qualifications.
The Exe Sailability Project opens up incredible opportunities to its sailors. Jayleigh Tilley from The Deaf Academy is an RYA qualified sailor from the 2023 season and has developed her skills further to become a member of the GB deaf sailing team.
Club website: www.exe-sailing-club.org
Sailability project: exe-sailing-club.org/page/sailability