SHOTWICK LAKE SAILING
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
The attached plan is intended to
inform others about the aims and aspirations of the club, to
inform the Membership of the Club of the intentions of their
Committee, and also to enable the Club to be helmed on the
appropriate course by its Committee.
The Club seeks to encourage
participation, proficiency, safety and most importantly the
enjoyment of sailing, windsurfing and canoeing. The intention is
to offer water sports facilities to the widest possible section of
the local community this includes all age groups and backgrounds
and emphasises
the suitability of these sports for the less able, females and
youths. The club will operate on a ‘not-for-profit’ basis to keep
the facilities available at a minimum cost.
We would seek to enable continuity
of development with our young sailors and feed them on to the W Y
A for further development, and encourage them to participate in
competitive events. Account will be taken of the particular
suitability of this sport for young females, and they will be
positively encouraged.
SHOTWICK LAKE SAILING CLUB
‑ A SWOT ANALYSIS
The aim of the
plan is to determine how we get to where we want to be, and a good
tool for that is to undertake a SWOT Analysis of where we are NOW.
Hopefully then our course should be clear!
SHOTWICK LAKE SAILING CLUB
SWOT ANALYSIS
|
STRENGTHS
Established R Y A
Club.
Safe Water.
Good structural
facilities
Qualified Chief
Instructor, Instructors, Assistant instructors
Established Club
rules and committee.
Established over
21 years
Easily accessed
from Flintshire,
Wrexham and the
Chester areas.
Good links with
Less abled groups.
Active youth
sailors including GBR and Welsh squad members.
Regular and
active race structure
Family orientated
club.
Hand over of
‘key’ from WA / Corus June 06. |
WEAKNESSES
Single handed /
junior training boats.
Insufficient
number of instructors.
Access- away from
the main roads, so limited ‘visibility’ to perspective new
members.
Public impression
that we are still associated with and part of steel works.
Lack of marketing
effort.
|
|
OPPORTUNITIES
Purchase of Lake
for security of future.
Improve access to
facilities at club for Youth Group, Less Abled and encourage
more female participation.
Increase number
of qualified instructors and assistants.
Provide craft for
hire?
Improved
structural facilities for less abled
i.e., showers/
toilets / changing
rooms
Seek grants to
allow the provision of facilities at reduced rates for
low-income members, pensioners etc.
Storage of
windsurf boards. |
THREATS
Legal obstacles
to purchase of the lake.
Burn out of
volunteers. ( need to spread the load)
Lack of younger
members on the Board of Directors.
|
PROFILE OF THE
SPORT
Shotwick Lake Sailing Club has existed for 21 years as a family
club.
In February 2006 the club became independent of Corus as Shotwick
Lake Sailing. The organisation is a Company Limited by Guarantee
and a registered Charity.
In 2005 the club was given the opportunity to purchase the site
and following fund raising sufficient finance was raised.
In July 2006 a Grand Opening of the club was held attended by
Assembly Members, MP’s and representatives from the Sports Council
for Wales, Flintshire Community Trust, Corus and the Welsh
Yachting Association where the ‘key’ to the site was handed over.
Currently as of January 2007 the final legal purchase has not been
completed due to delays with solicitors and legal queries that are
currently being resolved. The Board of Directors are continually
pressing for these items to be resolved as soon as possible. The
‘risk’ to the club due to the purchase not being completed is
small but will not be removed until the purchase is complete.
Shotwick Lake Sailing strives to ensure it remains inclusive and
accessible to all sections of the community. Shotwick Lake is
particularly suited to beginners to sailing, windsurfing and
canoeing regardless of their age, ability or gender.
It is inherently safe in that it can be accessed around its entire
circumference, and its small size enables quick recovery should
conditions change unexpectedly. It is non tidal.
The provision of race training boats and training boats which
could be hired to people interested in entering the sport, will
facilitate this experience and afford subsequent access.
The club is managed
by a dedicated and enthusiastic committee (Board of Directors).
Achievements to
date:
|
1. |
Decision to move forward in purchasing
sailing club from WDA. Appointed solicitor to progress
purchase.
|
|
2. |
Following advice from FLVC established
company limited by guarantee ‘Shotwick Lake Sailing’
|
|
3. |
Obtained Registered Charity status for the
promotion of sailing and associated water sports.
|
|
4. |
Passed RYA training centre inspection
September 06.
|
|
4. |
Trained additional RYA dinghy sailing
instructors and Senior Instructors.
|
|
5. |
Comprehensive programme RYA dinghy and
powerboat courses held.
|
|
6. |
3 No Wanderer sailing dinghy’s purchased
for training.
|
|
7. |
Funding secured for site purchase.
|
|
8. |
Closer co-operation links set up with
permit groups to encourage greater involvement / training
opportunities / increase involvement from similar groups.
|
|
9. |
Training for racing coach underway.
|
|
10. |
Training from Solo / Scorpion National
Champion arranged.
|
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11.
|
Link made with North Wales Scouts / Girl
Guide movements. |
|
12.
|
Three boats for less abled sailors
regularly taking part in racing events. |
|
13.
|
Promotion of Club via local newspapers. |
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14.
|
Mobilised local AM, MP’s to support club
purchase. |
|
15.
|
Sailing Club affiliated to the Flintshire
Well Being Network. |
|
16.
|
Facilitating WAY Development Squad
Training. |
The following section
details the proposed development plan forward. The plan once
accepted by the sailing club committee for implementation will be
reviewed and monitored on a six monthly basis in January and July
each year.
