You can choose when you want to help by booking on your availability on our CVSS rota (Three Rings).
Our volunteers work in teams under the direction of a Sailing Leader and they are always keen to support newcomers and to provide any necessary training.
If you you are a lakeside volunteer we will work within your 'comfort zone'. If you don't want to sail or Katakanu we have lots of shore based jobs you can do. In fact all of these are absolutely critical to keeping CVSS on the water.
As a new volunteer we will arrange a DBS check for you if you don't already have one and are over 16 years. CVSS arranges this and there are no costs.
We will introduce you to the team and to key staff and provide safety information on your first visit.
From then on if you might want to assist on the water we will take you sailing in an access dinghy and help build up your skills so that you can become a buddy sailor in time.
You will learn how to moor our access dinghies safely, how to rig them and how to help disabled sailors board both dinghies and Katakanus. You will also learn about hoisting disabled people and fitting slings.
As you become more familiar with the operation you may be asked to crew a patrol or safety boat (powered boats) with an experienced helm. Of course we do not expect you to gain these skills in a couple of visits!
Land based volunteers will become part of our Shore Officers team, meeting and greeting, fitting buoyancy aids, assisting with shore based safety and keeping our absolutely essential records of who is on site and what they are doing.
CVSS offers Safeguarding and Disability Awareness Training as required by organisational needs. There is comprehensive training provided at the start of each sailing season for all volunteers. Training is provided to to match the interests of individual volunteers and the needs of the organisation to ensure the safety of everyone.
Established volunteers may be asked to attend First Aid, Child Protection and other land based courses; they may also be offered water based training such as RYA Powerboat and Safety Boat courses if they wish to helm the safety or patrol boats. These courses are locally based and funded by CVSS.
CVSS is part of the RYA Sailability Volunteer Development Scheme. Any CVSS volunteer can join this and we would be very happy to support you working your way through the scheme. However there is no requirement on CVSS volunteers to do so.
There are also vacancies for administrative positions and social media persons.
If you would like further information please Message us
