The Exe Sailability project and its army of volunteers was presented with the King’s Award for Voluntary Service by the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Rear Admiral Chris Snow CBE DL.
Created in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee, the Award is the top honour a voluntary group can receive.
Since its creations 18 years ago, Sailability, in Exmouth, has given thousands of disadvantaged people the chance to sail.
Now it has over 100 volunteers and over just six weeks during April and May this year they took out 237 sailors on 106 separate outings.
Sailors include students and residents attending from a wide range of schools, colleges and residential homes, such as Barley Close (Voyage Care), CEDA, The Deaf Academy, InFocus, Mill Water School, My-Way, South West Care Homes, Stallcombe House and Young Carers.
Over the years it has consistently been supported by local county councillors through their locality budgets.
This includes donations from former councillor and Honorary Alderman Eileen Wragg (Lib Dem) while more recently contributions have been made by current members Councillor Jeff Trail (Conservative) and Councillor Helen Brown (Reform).
Vice Lord Lieutenant of Devon, Rear Admiral Chris Snow CBE DL said:
“I am pleased to present the Kings Award; it’s the equivalent of an MBE and well deserved and recognises the fantastic work and dedication of all of the club members and all the Sailability Volunteers. Well done.
“It’s ability that counts not disability.”
