News
BSAC’s Basildon branch gains £10,000 Sport England grant
Basildon SAC has won a grant of close to £10,000 to encourage the next generation into the sport.
The club is celebrating after hearing the news they have won a £9,285 Sport England grant. Basildon SAC’s Training Officer, Terry Tarling, says the £9,285 Sport England grant will be used to buy equipment so the club can attract and train new members, particularly teenagers.
He said: “As a club we are very pro-active and intend to get around groups such as the Sea Cadets, youth clubs and even schools spreading the word about the sport.
“We need to buy quite a lot of equipment, such as buoyancy jackets, masks, cylinders and so forth if we are to attract and train new members.
“We also want to buy a marine defibrillator which could, potentially, benefit all club members. Luckily we have a member who is a paediatric consultant who can lead on training so every club member will know how to use it.”
Basildon has an excellent track record in training younger divers. One of their youngest members, Charlotte Thorpe is excelling at the sport having just passed her BSAC Sports Diver theory exam at the age of 14 having already qualified as a BSAC Ocean Diver.
Charlotte said: “It took me three months to get to my current level which involved pool sessions, classroom theory and open water dives at Stoney Cove Dive Centre near Leicester and Holborough in Kent.
“I also went to the Farne Islands last August which was absolutely brilliant. The seals were amazing and really playful and friendly underwater. I love to see marine life, it’s brilliant.”
Mary Tetley, BSAC Chief Executive, said: “Basildon Sub Aqua Club should be really proud of gaining this financial grant and it is brilliant to hear they will be putting it to good use by encouraging youngsters to try and enjoy the sport.”
Is your club looking to raise funds to boost its training? Check out BSAC’s guidance on Grant Funding here.
Blogs
Discover Curaçao with the Ultimate Dive Vacation Guide – 2024 DEMA Special Edition
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News
Santa Divers take the Plunge for Charity
Ho Ho Ho! Vobster Quay’s recording-breaking charity Santa diving event returns on Sunday 15th December 2024 for another round of festive fundraising frivolities. Run in aid of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Help For Heroes, this ever-popular annual fundraising event aims to raise sack-loads of cash for these two very deserving charities.
Divers of all levels are invited to grab their Santa outfits – and as much festive cheer as they can muster – and head down to Vobster Quay near Mells, Somerset for a mass sponsored Santa dive in aid of charity. In previous years, the event has attracted divers from the far corners of the UK to join in the festive merriment for a final festive dive before the Christmas and New Year break. Back in 2015, the event smashed the world record for the most Santa divers with 188 divers taking to the waters donning their festive finery – a record that remains unbeaten to this day!
Vobster Santas isn’t just about setting records – it’s also about raising some serious cash for charity. Vobster Quay encourages all divers to get into the spirit of the season to raise much-needed funds for two very deserving charities – the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Help For Heroes.
Through individual sponsorship and online donations, divers can invite their friends, family and work colleagues to sponsor them to plunge into the balmy waters of Vobster Quay dressed in full festive finery. Since the very first Santa dive in 2007, the event has raised over £52,000 for charity. “It’s been over 17 years since the very first charity Santa dive took place at Vobster Quay and every year the event just keeps getting bigger and better” enthused Vobster Quay owner, Amy Stanton.
“Vobster Santas is a great way for divers to say a massive thank you to the both the RNLI and Help For Heroes – two very deserving charities close to our hearts. We’re immensely proud of all that Vobster Santas has achieved and hope that even more divers will join this year’s event on Sunday 15th December. I’m confident that we can make Vobster Santas 2024 the biggest yet!”.
Divers wishing to participate can get involved by simply registering their attendance at
www.vobster.com/event-vobstersantas.php.
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