A SAILING club that gives disabled people the skills to navigate the water has been handed a lifeline after moving into a new home in Walsall for the first time in 15 years.
Walsall Sailability has moved five miles from its former base of Sneyd reservoir to The Swag, in Barns Lane, Aldridge, following affiliation to Aldridge Sailing Club.
The move comes after Walsall Council – who ran the club as part of their outdoor adventure service – tabled a move to close the service among plans to save £97,000.
Although bosses later removed the proposal from planned cuts, leaders at Walsall Sailability, which was formed back in 2000 as the Sneyd Sailability Group, decided it was time for the group to make the move to Aldridge Sailing Club (SC).
It comes after club principal Jeff Moore also retired from his role of outdoor pursuit officer for Walsall Council's sports and leisure team.
Mr Moore will continue to run Walsall Sailability with the help of Philippa Bryan, Royal Yachting Association (RYA) senior instructor and parents of young people with disabilities who have sailed or sail with the group.
The group is now looking to attract further funding, participants and volunteers to support activities on offer, with an open day held this weekend.
"Sailing is one of the few sports where people of all abilities really can take part alongside each other on a level playing field," said Mr Moore.
"The affiliation to Aldridge SC is the way forward for the group in the long-term both in terms of the further opportunities Walsall Sailability can offer to sailors staying involved in the sport into the future and promoting true social inclusion.
"The group is self sufficient with families owning their own specially-adapted access dinghies and powerboats, while we are working with Aldridge to secure funding to invest in facilities to accommodate people with disabilities on a regular basis."
Andy Jukes, principal of Aldridge SC, has welcomed the move.
He added: "We are really pleased to have the opportunity to support Walsall Sailability and welcome them to Barns Lane.
"It is great our club facilities will be used more widely, and going forwards we aim to continue the development of the club to promote sailing for all in the community."
Residents of all abilities, ages and backgrounds are invited to see what sailing has to offer when Aldridge SC with Walsall Sailability hosts its free annual open day on Saturday (April 25).
There will then be another opportunity for newcomers to also have a go at no cost on Sunday, May 10 as part of the national RYA Push The Boat Out event.
"The open day and 'Push The Boat Out' event will demonstrate that getting into sailing really is simple, fun and open to anyone and everyone," added Mr Jukes.
Aldridge club members will give visitors the chance to get out on the water and sample sailing at both events.
Walsall Sailability will also supply adapted boats for families with disabled children or disabled adults within the family to try sailing. Visitors can also enjoy a ride in a powerboat at both events.
The events run from 11am to 4pm and visitors are asked to bring warm clothes, soft soled shoes and a waterproof.
To find out more, visit www.aldridgesc.org.uk
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