ALL ABOARD

All Aboard is a fully accessible Water Sports Centre, open to all in the community, but our focus is on reaching those with physical or mental disabilities, long term conditions, from deprived areas, or suffering loneliness or isolation. Our activities include sailing, paddlesports, boat trips, rowing and more. We are fully inclusive, with adaptive equipment allowing wheelchair users and those with limited mobility to access both our Centre and the water in a variety of craft. All instructors and volunteers are trained in Disability Awareness. We are accredited with the RYA, British Rowing, British Canoeing, Adventure Activities Licensing Service, and Ofsted.

The aim of our sessions is to positively impact health and well-being, particularly for those who may have limited opportunity to participate in more traditional physical activities, or who may have come across barriers to accessing the water in other watersport settings. Our sessions also develop life skills such as confidence, respect, organisation, teamwork, and responsibility. They encourage friendships to develop, and in appropriate situations, allow the participant to experience the freedom of complete independence and control of their actions while out on the water.

We were delighted to receive a £250 donation earlier this year from Yeo Valley Lions. We have used the funds to develop our offering for those with sensory impairments, with one case study detailed below

We already work with many people with sensory impairments, through SEN schools, support groups, our twice weekly Sailability sessions, and Sunday morning sessions for visually impaired rowers.

Abdul is a totally blind post graduate student studying Aerospace engineering. He originally drove a powerboat at our Sailability sessions (designed for those with all types of disability to access the water) before the pandemic. After a spell overseas he returned to the UK and asked us if he could achieve his RYA Level 2 powerboating qualification. He would be only the second blind person to achieve this in the UK.

After an initial assessment, and with advice and resources from the RYA, All Aboard Instructor Glyn undertook to take Abdul through the course. Glyn designed a braille type picture version of the floating harbour, and the RYA are will issue Abdul with an 'e' book version of the powerboating handbook.

Abdul said 'getting a powerboat licence gives me a feeling of independence and autonomy. It means I am in control of my decisions and have freedom to take a boat out when I can as long as I have someone who can act as my eyes'

Glyn said 'Abdul is a naturally good powerboater. He is doing very well getting through the course and has practiced general driving, man overboard, towing and mooring procedures. I act as his eyes, giving him directions and distances and he does the rest. I anticipate he will pass the course by Christmas.

All Aboard Manager Steve said 'Our charitable purpose is to enable anyone to access watersports regardless of restrictions such as financial, social, age or disability. It has been a pleasure enabling Abdul to achieve his ambition, and we would like to thank Yeo Valley Lions for their financial support in helping us achieve our objects'.