RYANI Youth Forum Develops Leaders & Ambassadors

3rd March 2020

Betty Armstrong

Katie Brow and Emily McAfee pictured during the latest meeting of the Youth Forum Credit: RYA NI

The great sailor Ed Baird, Laser World champion in 1980 and World J24 Champion in 1983 is reputed to have said that the most important skills come from 'Time on the Water'.

Now in preparation for doing just that this coming season, a group of sailors have been working on their development skills as part of RYANI's Youth Forum and putting their leadership and thinking skills to the test through workshops at the Ganaway Activity Centre in Millisle, Co. Down. They also tested their nerves on the challenging climbing wall.

The RYANI Youth Forum group, which is being piloted for one year, has been formed as part of an initiative to empower young people, encouraging them to participate actively in society. The group is also being given the chance to improve their own lives by highlighting their needs and interests, as well putting forward their views to the governing body.

As sailing can be looked on as social exercise as well as a sport, with the skill of crewing a boat with others needing a great deal of understanding, patience and organisation, this training will no doubt benefit the young sailors.

Chair of RYANI Jackie Patton commented: "At RYANI we are delighted to be running this initiative in partnership with the Northern Ireland Youth Forum. It is a fantastic opportunity for our young people to develop as leaders and young ambassadors within the club setting and their community, giving them skills for life."
RYANI has scored a first as it is the first region to set up the initiative.

Published in RYA Northern Ireland

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RYA NI

About The Author

Betty Armstrong

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Betty Armstrong is Afloat and Yachting Life's Northern Ireland Correspondent. Betty grew up racing dinghies but now sails a more sedate Dehler 36 around County Down

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About the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Northern Ireland

The RYA is the national body for dinghy, yacht and motor cruising, all forms of sail racing, RIBs and sports boats, windsurfing and personal watercraft and a leading representative for inland waterways cruising.

The RYA is recognised by Government, the media and opinion formers as the representative body and voice for the activities that it represents. It continually fights for the rights and freedoms of its 112,000 personal members.

The RYA has more than 1,500 affiliated clubs and classes, which represent some 350,000 boaters throughout the UK. It is estimated that 4 million people in the UK take part in boating activity annually.

The RYA also sets and maintains recognised standards for training for both leisure and commercial boating through a network of more than 2,400 RYA Recognised Training Centres across 58 countries. More than 250,000 people per year complete RYA training courses.

The RYA is responsible for one of the UK’s most successful Olympic medal-winning sports. Our coaching and development schemes actively support 800 of our country’s top sailors, from talented juniors to Olympic and World champions.

The RYA is committed to promoting all forms of boating and making them accessible to everyone. For more information please visit www.rya.org.uk.

The Royal Yachting Association Northern Ireland (RYA NI) acts for the RYA in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Chairman of RYA NI is invited to join the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) Policy Review Committee.

You can find the RYA Northern Ireland at Sketrick House, GE8, Jubilee Road, Newtownards, BT23 4YH.

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Contact RYA NI: Tel: 02891 827154 email: [email protected]