The Ahoy Centre
Encyclopedia
The AHOY Centre is a registered charity based in Deptford
, London
that helps disadvantaged children and people with disabilities to become involved in watersports and to gain RYA
certifications in activities such as sailing, powerboating and first aid. It has been identified as a major cultural project by the Greater London Authority.
and, since then, the centre has assisted over 5,000 people to try sailing, to attend courses, and to gain recognised qualifications.
, the Safer London Foundation and local London boroughs to run a variety of sailing and powerboating courses for people otherwise unable to take part in watersports due to physical disability or social disadvantage.
The charity is an accredited RYA sailability
centre and has instructors, boats and launching equipment that enable it to provide tailored sailing courses for people with serious disabilities, including those in wheelchairs. This equipment includes a 40 ft long power-boat, the first of its kind in the world, that is designed so that it can be crewed entirely by people with disabilities. The boat has cctv cameras allowing the crew to easily view all angles around the craft, and state-of-the-art controls that can be used just with small finger movements.
In addition, the centre's partners in the probation service and the police refer to the centre youths identified as being at-risk due to their home circumstances or their association with gang violence or religious fundamentalism. Such youths benefit from the structured environment, the new and challenging activities, and the presence of strong role models. They may go on to gain qualifications and even become instructors in their own right. As one put it:
Appropriately qualified adult volunteers may instruct sessions, drive a safety boat, or assist from the shore. Alternatively, they may help with a variety of administrative tasks.
A small number of paid, full-time staff manage the day-to-day running of the charity, including outreach, fundraising and managing volunteers. The overall running of the charity is done by a board of trustees.
in Thames waterman cutters
.
Deptford
Deptford is a district of south London, England, located on the south bank of the River Thames. It is named after a ford of the River Ravensbourne, and from the mid 16th century to the late 19th was home to Deptford Dockyard, the first of the Royal Navy Dockyards.Deptford and the docks are...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
that helps disadvantaged children and people with disabilities to become involved in watersports and to gain RYA
Rya
A rya is a traditional Scandinavian wool rug with a long pile of about 1 to 3 inches. They were made using a form of the Ghiordes knot to make the double-sided pile fabric. Though rya means "rug" in English, the original meaning in Sweden of rya was a bed cover with a knotted pile...
certifications in activities such as sailing, powerboating and first aid. It has been identified as a major cultural project by the Greater London Authority.
History
The name of the AHOY Centre is an acronym of Adventure Help and Opportunities for Youth Centre. It was officially opened in May 2004 by The Princess RoyalAnne, Princess Royal
Princess Anne, Princess Royal , is the only daughter of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
and, since then, the centre has assisted over 5,000 people to try sailing, to attend courses, and to gain recognised qualifications.
Activities
The AHOY Centre works with partners such as the Metropolitan PoliceMetropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
, the Safer London Foundation and local London boroughs to run a variety of sailing and powerboating courses for people otherwise unable to take part in watersports due to physical disability or social disadvantage.
The charity is an accredited RYA sailability
Rya
A rya is a traditional Scandinavian wool rug with a long pile of about 1 to 3 inches. They were made using a form of the Ghiordes knot to make the double-sided pile fabric. Though rya means "rug" in English, the original meaning in Sweden of rya was a bed cover with a knotted pile...
centre and has instructors, boats and launching equipment that enable it to provide tailored sailing courses for people with serious disabilities, including those in wheelchairs. This equipment includes a 40 ft long power-boat, the first of its kind in the world, that is designed so that it can be crewed entirely by people with disabilities. The boat has cctv cameras allowing the crew to easily view all angles around the craft, and state-of-the-art controls that can be used just with small finger movements.
In addition, the centre's partners in the probation service and the police refer to the centre youths identified as being at-risk due to their home circumstances or their association with gang violence or religious fundamentalism. Such youths benefit from the structured environment, the new and challenging activities, and the presence of strong role models. They may go on to gain qualifications and even become instructors in their own right. As one put it:
Volunteers and staff
Around 230 volunteers of all ages assist at the centre, where they may take on a variety of roles. Younger children are taught to sail, with the aim of becoming instructors later, and also assist with centre maintenance and boat repairs.Appropriately qualified adult volunteers may instruct sessions, drive a safety boat, or assist from the shore. Alternatively, they may help with a variety of administrative tasks.
A small number of paid, full-time staff manage the day-to-day running of the charity, including outreach, fundraising and managing volunteers. The overall running of the charity is done by a board of trustees.
Fundraising
The AHOY Centre receives grants from Local Government bodies, including the Safer London foundation. It has received around £170,000 in National Lottery funding over a number of years. It also relies heavily on independent fundraising and donations. In June 2010, two teams of rowers raised money for the centre by successfully rowing across the English ChannelEnglish Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
in Thames waterman cutters
Watercraft rowing
Watercraft rowing is the act of propelling a boat using the motion of oars in the water. The difference between paddling and rowing is that with rowing the oars have a mechanical connection with the boat whereas with paddling the paddles are hand-held with no mechanical connection.This article...
.