Praise for club

Loch Ard Sailing Club have been recognised for their work to develop coaches, volunteers and athletes.

John Harrington of the club was presented with a special plaque marking their new Charter Club status from Active Stirling’s Neil Thomson.

The club have put an emphasis on volunteer recruitment and development – training 12 volunteers using First Aid in Safe Hands courses.

These volunteers have then gone on to deliver water and land-based taster sessions for local primary schools.

To accommodate an increase in junior members the club applied and were successful in gaining funding for a new Optimist boat ideal for beginner adults and juniors.

Despite this success, however, the club are still working hard to strengthen their junior section, develop the depth of volunteers and increase overall membership.

To do this they have been delivering taster sessions to primary school pupils with the help of Active Stirling’s active schools co-ordinators.

They also attended the freshers’fayre at Balfron High School to talk to pupils there.

Mr Harrington insists he’s delighted at the Charter Club recognition.

He said:“We are proud to receive this award and hope to continue this strong partnership we have with Active Stirling to continue to grow and develop.”

Active Stirling development officer Liz Francis added:“Loch Ard Sailing Club deserves this award for their hard work and commitment, and are going from strength-to-strength.”