MEDWAY WATERSPORTS TRUST LIMITED
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Mission Statement
To be the lead water sports & land-based adventurous activities provider within the Medway Towns for everyone, through the medium of water sports and adventurous activities; with a special focus on the development of young people in achieving their full potential, physically, intellectually and socially to support them in becoming positive members of society.
About This Cause
Set up in 2012 and run entirely by volunteers, Medway Watersports Trust exists to provide low cost access to sailing, canoeing and kayaking activities to children, youths and adults of the Medway Towns and North Kent. Based in one of the most socially disadvantaged areas in the UK, our board of trustees focusses on showing local people the benefits that being on the open water can give. Whether this is by way of physical health benefits derived through fresh air and exercise, or mental health benefits derived through exercise, open spaces, working as a team and enjoying nature. Demand for our services is high. Our local population is often made up of fractured families suffering from social and economic deprivation. Children's health is poorer than the average and incidents of obesity are high. Sport take up amongst this group is low and sailing is seen by the average person as an elitist sport. By working with local schools, youth groups and other charities, and keeping our costs low by operating without paid staff, we are able to offer low cost (and sometimes free) access to the water for these groups. Our highly trained and experienced volunteers hold all of the necessary training licences and qualifications to teach. Our centre holds the Royal Yachting Association tarining centre accrediation as well as the same from British Canoeing. We are licenced by the Adventure Activities Licencing Authority to provide outdoor activities to under 16 year olds. This is overseen by the UK Government. Being an outdoor activity centre, based on the tidal river Medway, we are only open between April and October, as the river water temperatures are too low outside those times for children to safely be in the water. With that taken into consideration, in 2023 we had our busiest year ever with over 800 children, youths and adults through our doors. By offering "paid for" sessions at commercial rates for individuals wanting to learn to sail or obtain power or safety boat licences, and by obtaining grants from donors, we are able to keep our costs low and our prices lower than any competitor on the river. Our sailing fleet is being slowly updated with new craft and by the end of 2025 I hope to have one of the youngest fleets on the river. These craft will be better suited to the taller, wider and heavier people of today, whilst at the same time being lighter and easier to launch for our volunteers, and having much better spare parts availability from the suppliers (who are locally based)