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Most days of the week at Trevassack Lake, we have the pleasure of welcoming a local Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) group from schools across west Cornwall. The watersports centre developed here by Children’s Sailing Trust, was designed from inception to be as inclusive and accessible as possible, with any and all activities available for all ages and abilities. In 2023/2024 the site won the Gold award for inclusivity and accessibility in the Cornwall Tourism Awards, so it was only natural that now we’re up and running, we held the first Interschool Inclusive Games.
On Wednesday 10th July 2024, Trevassack Lake was the setting for a joint endeavour, CST providing the location, facilities and watersports staff for Active Cornwall and RYA South West to help bring to life the first SEND Regatta.
Our Activity Manager, Rupert, is very experienced having previously set up a Sailability centre up country, and his enthusiasm, skill and flexibility are what made the day what it was. And that was a resounding success (he even arranged the weather, somehow!).
The British Summer had been living up to drizzly grey stereotypes but as the participants arrived, so did the blue sky. Our team of volunteers, including CST No.1 Tony Chown, ex-Trustees Tony H and Jonathan, two RYA Instructors (Peter Bone and Rob Howlett) and 2 Active Cornwall members (Megan Hilley and Abi Dennison) gathered for a briefing by Rupert, which mostly involved going with the flow – the nature of people coming to compete meant we were very much lead by them in terms of what activities actually went ahead. Despite one school not managing to make it on the day, every other person who attended felt happy and able to head out on the water.
Young Leaders from Camborne, who were undertaking work experience with us were given a crash course (not literally!) in sailing our adaptive Hansa Dinghies so they could work directly with the young people from Three Bridges and Curnow Schools on the day.
“At the time I hesitated trying to find the right word to describe my time on the lugger with Instructor Chris and [a young girl] with her carer. I now know that word – inspirational. Seeing the team at work with all of the SEND children was emotionally draining and uplifting. Today was illuminating, humbling and enormously rewarding. Thank you and huge respect to all the team.”
There were a few activities for people to take part in, the first being kayak ‘races’. The participants took to the water with enthusiasm, proudly showing off how much their paddling skills had progressed. Occasionally, one or two would take on the challenge of kayaking faster than the nearest dinghy or safety boat and receive rapturous applause from all involved – it was joyous to watch! (Spot the ‘360 skills’ in our video!)
Many people chose to sail the Hansa dinghies, accompanied by a volunteer, and not only had to put their sailing knowledge into practice, but somehow try and navigate strategically placed floating buckets with point-scoring tennis balls!
We’ve no idea who won that one in the end, but one student came off the water exclaiming with tears of laughter how her volunteer Tony C landed himself a lap full of water when he tried to cheat by pulling the whole bucket into the boat!
“Could I please ask you to forward on our continued thanks to your amazing staff. The learners have all loved coming again and get lots out of it.”
This event was one that filled everyone involved full of joy, as the sun shone, laughter echoed around our quarry and smiles were a mile wide. Today, more than any other, it was obvious how much being on the water broadens the horizons of the people we work with, opening up what can be quite a small world for some and allowing the freedom and excitement of being on open water.
A picnic lunch refuelled tired legs and some of the team were keen to get back out on the water!
But soon enough, it was time to dry off and receive their well-deserved medals. CST sailor and Cornwall School Games medals were awarded to participants who wore them with pride. Of course we had them pose to show off their achievements…
This event was the culmination of 8 weeks of sailability syllabus training, funded by the RYA, hence Rob and Pete joining in and supporting the coming together of groups on the day. The idea was to progress students from their first time out on the water, through skill acquisition and then social interactions bringing multiple groups together. Week 9 was the ‘cherry on the lake’, a celebration of all achieved in the past couple of months.
‘It was incredible to see so many young people with educational needs out on the water together, having so much fun. The feedback from Active Cornwall and the RYA was immensely glowing and hopefully next year we will bring even more young people to the lake to experience such an event. Outstanding effort by all, thank you.”
© CST 2020 | CIO 1165396 | Website Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy
© CST 2020 | CIO 1165396
Website Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy