CVSS is run entirely by volunteers. As a Volunteer and after initial training – you'll welcome sailors, make sure they're correctly prepared for sailing, help them in and out of boats (using a hoist if required), act as a 'buddy' sailor, helm and crew safety boats, prepare the site and maintain our boats and equipment.
We liaise with BLYM (our host sailing club), the RYA, Councillors and local officials; we raise funds, produce publicity material, maintain the website, visit schools, apply for grants, prepare our accounts and give presentations to the public.
When someone wants to volunteer – we find them a job.
Volunteers mostly come from the local area but some travel many miles to support the group. The regular volunteers are aged between 16 and 90 and some are disabled themselves. Some are retired; some are in full-time employment or education, house-husbands, carers and job-seekers.
Training is provided to match the interests of individual volunteers and the needs of the organisation: above all – to ensure the safety of everyone.
Training includes: first aid, power boat and safety boat driving, sailing skills, radio use, child protection training and disability awareness.
You do not need to have worked with disabled people or have sailing experience to volunteer: you just need to want to work in a team, to help disabled people sail and enjoy the experience. Some volunteers work 4 days a week during the sailing season and others work 3 hours every fortnight. We accommodate many different levels of availability.
Hot and cold drinks and biscuits are available to all volunteers on sailing days.
All adult CVSS volunteers have a mandatory DBS check.
If you'd like to get involved, please get in touch
Application for Voluntary Membership
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