Funding will provide 10 beginner Kayaks, 2 instructor Kayaks, 2 single sit on top kayaks, 2 double sit on top kayaks, 4 paddle boards, 18 paddles, a trailer for the kayaks and a stock of different sized wet suits, booties, safety helmets, buoyancy aids. Ready to go!
The project has two parts:
A local Harris families ‘club’ that will provide use of the water sports equipment free of direct charge for a season membership. Induction classes will be provided to ensure safe use of the equipment. Safety supervisors will be on hand during hours of use.
The second part is the commercial offer of fully qualified coaching and guided leadership for sea kayaking tours and sailing dinghy training.
Why is the project important?
The project is important because it focuses on the well being of young people and delivers opportunities for them that might ordinarily be outside of the scope of their educational routine and gives them access to the outdoor environment, especially as the community recovers from Covid and a year of restrictions.
Providing opportunities for wider achievement and personal development is at the heart of the project’s agenda.
Maritime skills will give confidence to young people to get out on the water for leisure, for health and well being and for them to consider a career path in the marine industry, especially marine tourism, which is predicted to continue to grow exponentially over the coming years.
Social inclusion:
The project is fully inclusive and encourages social inclusion particularly by way of the delivery of skills transfer from marine experienced members of the community. This fosters confidence in young people and a sense of place and worth for older members of the community.
Harris Development and Isle of Harris Marina are totally committed to ensuring that its activities and enterprises are aligned with the ongoing quest to bring our society to a zero-carbon emission status and to find new and innovative ways to reuse, recycle and up cycle.
Collaboration:
Isle of Harris water sports would continue the collaboration between the Isle of Harris Marina with Lewis and Harris Youth Association and the Scaladale Centre, who had based their dinghies and other equipment at the Isle of Harris Marina. We would expand collaboration to Sir E Scott school pupils to provide a mix of sessions that give students opportunity to explore an interest in water sports, boats and the marine world.
Isle of Harris Water Sports would become RYA accredited as a phase 2 project enabling it to deliver certificated courses across a range of disciplines. This in turn would develop new instructor training in Harris which is one the key objectives of the Isle of Harris Marina project.