Palmers Brewery in Bridport, Dorset, has raised more than £4,000 to help young or disabled people enjoy the thrill of sailing with the Chesil Trust.
For every pint of Palmers’ Dorset Gold sold in Dorset, 5p is donated to the Trust. In the last year almost 83,000 pints were sold, making £4,146.60 for the Trust. Sales of Dorset Gold have grown rapidly since its introduction in 1999 and the ale is now available in bottles as well as on draught, with 5p per bottle on every bottle sold across the UK going to the Trust. This premium real ale is particularly popular in the summer months, and is now stocked at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA). Visitors to the academy can refresh themselves and make a contribution to the Trust.
The Chesil Trust assists in the provision of facilities for training in sailing and seamanship and other activities. To date the Trust has enabled almost 6,000 children to go sailing for the first time and has also assisted 7 talented young sailors from Dorset, who between them have won a number of major competitions, including three Gold medals at the World Youth Sailing Championships. One of these young sailors has now joined the Team GBR Olympic Development Squad. Much of the activity funded by the Chesil Trust takes place at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy and many of the young people therefore get their sailing experience at the host venue for the 2012 sailing events.
Sailing is not a sport many would be able to do without the help from the Chesil Trust. Through donations like these the Chesil Trust can introduce youngsters to the sport and see their interest grow from strength to strength. The Chesil Trust, SailLaser, the Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre and WPNSA are actively working together to provide reduced-rate community sailing programmes. Although the academy is the 2012 Games venue and a training ground for the UK’s top sailors including Gold Medallists Sarah Dempsey and Ben Ainslie, it also aims to promote the sport of sailing to all levels of competence and ability, through courses, training and events, while supporting and working closely with the local Dorset community.
David Dunn, Chairman of the Trustees of the Chesil Trust, commented, “we would like to thank Palmer’s Brewery for their support and generosity. Donations such as these allow for the continual development of community sailing both at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy and the Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre, providing opportunities to build a sporting legacy. Through SailLaser and WOEC, the academy has already run a number of successful events in conjunction with the Chesil Trust, such as the ‘SSE Sail for a Fiver’ initiative with local school children. Chesil Trust events have always been a tremendous success and thanks to the Palmers Brewery we can introduce more children to the exciting sport of sailing.”
