£10,000 funding secured to increase watersports at Shrewsbury College
Students at Shrewsbury College will have the opportunity to take part in a range of popular water sports thanks to a grant of £10,000 secured from Sport England’s Further Education Activation Fund.
This will enable the Outdoor Adventure department at the College to purchase more water sports equipment, including new kayaks, canoes, paddles spray decks and cagoules, as well as the fee to remain a member at Shropshire Paddle Sports in Oswestry.
This is the first time the College has received specific funding to spend on water sports facilities. As well as Outdoor Adventure students, it will also give students across the College to try their hand at exciting activities such as kayaking or canoeing and present them with a new hobby or opportunity as part of the Wednesday afternoon enrichment programme.
Outdoor Adventure tutor, Simon Edwards, said: “This is a great opportunity for us to further extend our links with the local community and in particular the new relationship we have gained with Shropshire Paddle Sports. It will also allow us to investigate the opportunity of running a Foundation degree in Outdoor and Adventurous Training, which will allow the students to progress further with their career.
“It’s important for us to teach our students the correct way to enjoy these exhilarating sport, and to recognise the potential risks, which most people who don’t regularly partake in water sports will not be aware of.”
Tutor Gareth Thomas, said: “The Outdoor Adventure course is very popular. We always receive the feedback that our students really like the fact that there are a lot of practical opportunities, from mountain walking to waterfall climbing. This extra funding is great news for the department. It means we will be less restricted by equipment hire and have more autonomy over when and where we take our students out.”
Level 3 Outdoor Adventure students are currently training to do the Welsh 3000s next month, a tough challenge that involves climbing 15 peaks in just two days, to raise money to provide a chairlift for disabled users at Shropshire Paddlesport Club, Oswestry. Any donations can be handed in to reception at the College on London Road.
