Extended to March 2013
Basingstoke and Deane Canoe Club are working with Treloar College in Alton to make kayaking available to the College students who have a range of disabilities. The current project has run from November 2010 to the present and was supported by an Inspiring You grant from Hampshire County Council for the period to March 2013.
Treloar College Swimming Pool
Treloar College who provide education and independence training for young people with physical disabilities and learning difficulties - is just 6 miles from the Canoe Club's proposed clubhouse on the Basingstoke Canal.
The project has three underpinning elements:
- disability awareness training for kayak coaches and volunteers from Basingstoke and Deane Canoe Club;
- paddlesport awareness training for Treloar College staff and carers who assist with the kayaking sessions; and
- equipment that is appropriate for use by paddlers who have a disability.
The pilot programme has consisted of a series of kayaking sessions in the Treloar College swimming pool. These are providing the students an opportunity to try a range of different kayaks from single sit-on-top kayaks to double open cockpit boats and to develop fundamental paddling skills.
Colin King, a coach with Basingstoke and Deane Canoe Club said "I have found the attitude and enthusiam of the students really inspiring. The other coaches and I have learned a lot from the students and from the staff at Treloar College".
For more information about, Treloar's please visit www.treloar.org.uk.
Woodmill
In July 2011 we pushed the envelope a little further with a kayaking trip on the lake at Woodmill. The combination of very sheltered water, a hoist at the water's edge and nearby changing rooms made this an ideal venue for our first outdoor trip.
The "guinea pigs" for the session were Vicky and Joel, both of were very understanding of our mistakes as we all learned together by trial and error. Support was provided by Steve, Ellie and Megan from the College and Peter from BADCC.
Peter Mansell said "It was an opportunity for all of us to learn. We went in with the attitude that anything is possible and were rewarded with great paddling. Congratulations to Vicky and Joel who both completed their PaddlePower Passport."
Extended to March 2012
The programme has been extended to 2012 by mutual agreement of the College and BADCC. We are pleased to welcome a new coach from the Club, Hilary, and five new staff from the College, Catherine, Jess, Lexie, Tim and Zoe, for this year. Once again the project is being supported by an Inspiring You grant from Hampshire County Council, for which we are very grateful.
The staff training programme has been completed and we are now working with a new group of students.
Extended again to March 2013!
The continuation of this partnership project benefits both parties. For the students at Treloar College and School the opportunity to go paddling with extend for another academic year. For Basingstoke & Deane Canoe Club it is an opportunity to reach out to another segment of the community and for our coaches to develop a wider range of experience.
Colt Hill Clubhouse
With the completion of phase one of Colt Hill Clubhouse in 2015, the outdoor element of the project transferred to Basingstoke Canal at Odiham, with one student joining the regualer Club Wednesday evening paddling sessions throughout the Summer term. Thanks to Tim, Denise and Lorna for their support!
