The
Centre
‘ A Charity Changing People's Lives Through Sailing ’
For Youth Volunteers, they sign up to become ‘Shipmates’ and pledge to be trained so that they can, in turn, help others to learn how to sail. They also have to help out on maintenance and fundraising at the Centre.
Jack Petchey Award
Born into a poor family in the East End of London, Jack Petchey became a multi millionaire and created the Achievement Award Scheme for schools across London & Essex to recognise and encourage "extreme endeavour and to help young people help themselves". AHOY'S acceptance onto the Silver Award Scheme, is a major achievement. Volunteer members (adults & youth) are invited to nominate young individuals they feel have made an exceptional contribution to the success of AHOY. Along with a certificate and badge comes £200 to spend on equipment. Winners of the award to date are Zack Ginnelly and Jade Van Graan. Zack chose to spend the money on new waterproof radios and Jade on marker bouys for racing and teaching. Let us look forward to seeing many more youth being nominated for this brilliant award scheme.
Youth Committee Updates
Recently, the Youth Committee have been planning trips with UKSA improving the overall structure of how the youth are taught. This includes the Shipmate sessions. The youth now have to go through stage 1 and progress right through to stage 4. We are also planning to encourage the Youth Volunteers to input their ideas/ thoughts about The AHOY Centre; what aspects they like about it and how it can be improved. Additionally, the Youth Committee are always trying to find new funders or incorporate old ones to help fund the youth sessions. As well as this, the summer fete will be organised to help raise money for The AHOY Centre.
Jade Van Graan
Role: Chair
The role of Chair overlooks what the members on the Youth Committee do and runs the meeting.
The Chair sets out tasks and the organisation procedures.
Michael Forrest
Role: Grant Funding
The role of Grant Funding researches and applies to funders.
This will be to buy new equipment or run courses.
Osman Yusef and Zack Ginnelly
Role: AssistanGroup Leaderst Youth
The role of Assistant Youth Group Leader works with the Youth Volunteers to ensure they feel comfortable and welcomed.
Additionally, they book youth in for future sessions.
Ouentin Bes-Green and Patrick Mc Quilkin
Role: Events & Marketing
The role of Events & Marketing plans future events for AHOY and organises advertisements for those trips.
Not only this, but they are always looking for new ways of advertising The AHOY Centre.
Wednesday night After School Club, with a twist...when your home work is done you get to go sailing! Contact us for more information
Edmund Waller Primary School, in New Cross, South East London was given the opportunity to escape the classroom environment and gain knowledge and understanding by participating in a sailing curriculum course.
About the course
The course is bespoke to meet the needs of the young people, depending on their requirements; ensuring sailing can be delivered to those that have special educational or physical needs. This is an ideal 'alternative education programme' which covers all aspects of outdoor and adventure activities. Many National Curriculum subjects are covered; at the same time emphasising life skills. Courses can be targeted for the most hard to reach young people. Initial training is undertaken at a dock on safe water and can be either 12 afternoon sessions or 6 full days - with a River Induction course delivered at AHOY on the last day. Content of course: health and safety, introduction to boats, rigging, educational activities, understanding of weather, local ecology and history, off-site educational visit, principles of sailing, capsize recovery,
The Learning Outcomes of this course:
- Basic understanding of boat handling techniques
- Experience in steering and boat handling
- Boat rigging
- Ropework
- Sailing techniques and manoeuvres
- Importance of clothing and equipment
- Capsize recovery
- Background knowledge of sailing
- Meteorology
- Range of sailing skills
- Rules of the 'road' (river)
- Basic racing
- Learn to work in a team
- Communication skills
- Leadership skills
- Personal safety
- Understanding local ecology
- Preparation and planning
- Following instructions
- Social skills
- Tides and tidal streams
- Awareness of other water users
- Launching and recovery
- Sailing theory and background
- Man overboard recovery
- Emergency equipment and precautions
Edmund Waller Primary School were given the opportunity to escape
Students from Edmund Waller Primary School celebrate at The AHOY Centre after receiving their certificates of Completion.
The AHOY Centre Youth Committee
Sailing & Boating For Young People
Working with young people at AHOY brings with it some of the greatest rewards, as they embrace the joys and excitement associated with water based activities. The most rewarding aspect of all is to see these youngsters, some of whom have been under achievers in other areas, gain new skills and nationally recognised qualifications - their pleasure in receiving certificates for these is all too evident. The personal development that comes with the team building and from helping others is seen time and time again as they become involved with the centre through volunteer membership.
Through the Youth Committee, youth members are able to have their say about what
happens at the Centre and proposing improvements. They are also given the support
and opportunity to raise money to use specifically on projects that directly benefit them.