Who are we?
Teignbridge Canoe Club believes in respect for our members, our community and our environment. That every member can be themselves, grow and develop as they wish, to be inspired, to find their adventure, to progress their skills, where our sport is accessible for all in a safe, supportive and fun club community….this is our Club
We are committed to inclusivity and increasing participation in paddlesport, enabling more people to enjoy our wonderful local environment of sea and river. During 2024 we successfully introduced paddleboard sessions to our club and these have proved amazingly successful in creating an ideal environment for those who may feel uncomfortable participating during busier club nights, fostering a safe and enjoyable space for everyone, particularly women and their young families, to develop skills and water confidence. The demand for these activities is continually increasing, and the current resources are limiting our ability to meet this growing need. To address this, we would like to purchase three additional paddleboards, to grow access and participation for female paddlers.
Stand-Up Paddleboarding is proving to be a highly accessible and appealing form of paddlesport, particularly for women, because:
Inflatable paddle boards are easy to transport without the need for roof racks and can be carried easily to the water, enabling members to participate without the need for assistance. This independence boosts confidence and self-esteem
It is confidence building, our sessions include practice in skills such as safely getting back onto the board from the water. This removes the fear of falling in and builds confidence in water environments. These skills are transferable to other paddlesports, including sea kayaking and white-water kayaking, which can further broaden engagement and helping paddlers build a greater awareness of safety, from preparation before getting on the water, choosing the right equipment and staying safe on the water
Why are we crowdfunding?
We have been working really hard to try and encourage more women and families to try paddlesports. Getting out on paddleboards in a safe and supportive environment has helped more women feel confident but we don't have enough equipment to enable everyone who wants to, to take part. We work really hard to ensure that people can try paddlesports in an affordable way and using good quality equipment so that their first experience is a good one. Adding three additional paddle boards to our fleet will enable a whole group of beginners to get on the water in a fun, friendly environment.
How we’ll spend the money raised
The cost of three paddle boards is £2,373.19, including all necessary equipment (paddles, PFDs, leashes).
Community impact
We want to enable more people to paddle and so we need to ensure that we have club equipment so they do not need to purchase their own equipment until they are certain it is for them. We want to foster inclusivity, boost confidence, and ensure that our paddlesport offerings continue to grow in alignment with our club's mission of providing accessible, enjoyable, and safe activities.
How you can play your part
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!
4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!