Funding from Areti Charitable Trust aims to break financial barriers in outdoor education.
ARNSIDE — Arnside Sailing Club has been awarded a £3,000 grant by the Areti Charitable Trust to help children from low-income families in the Lancaster City Council area take part in water sports. The funding will support a bursary scheme and provide discounted lessons to schools and youth groups.
The Club offers a range of water-based activities, including sailing, paddleboarding, windsurfing, and kayaking. The new grant will make these sports more accessible to children who may otherwise be unable to afford them.
The bursary scheme offers children whose parents receive Universal Credit up to £100 toward the cost of lessons. For schools and youth groups in the Lancaster area, the Club will offer a 50% discount on lesson fees.
“Our goal is to make water sports open to all children, regardless of their background,” said Alasdair Simpson of Arnside Sailing Club. “Cost is often a barrier, and this funding helps break that down.”
The Club, now operating as a registered charity, aims to introduce more young people to outdoor activities and the natural environment. Simpson emphasized that participation in water sports can help children build confidence, resilience, teamwork, and decision-making skills.
The Club offers a variety of opportunities for young people to get on the water. A Discover Sailing Day is scheduled for Bank Holiday Monday, May 26, where the Club will take people across the estuary. Taster sessions and longer four-day youth sailing courses are also available, with lessons starting from age 8. The youth courses are held at Arnside and at Killington near Sedbergh.
Membership for low-income families is offered at a reduced rate of £25 per year. For children whose parents are on Universal Credit, the bursary can reduce the cost of a four-day sailing course from £140 to just £40.
“We’re especially eager to work with schools and youth groups in disadvantaged areas,” Simpson added. “Water sports give young people a chance to connect with nature while developing essential life skills.”
The Areti Charitable Trust provides grants to support children and young people from economically and socially challenging backgrounds in the Lancaster City Council area. Its mission is to offer experiences that help young people engage with the natural world through organized activities.
Arnside Sailing Club hopes the initiative will encourage more families and community groups to explore the benefits of water sports and outdoor learning.