Our vision

The OWT’s vision for the BARRY COMMUNITY WATER ACTIVITIES CENTRE is that it will be available to all.

The project can now proceed as we have obtained the necessary water licence with Associated British Ports who own Barry Docks and are negotiating an agreement for a long term lease.

We envisage that the voluntary groups, will have access to the facilities for an annual fee, so long as they utilise their own craft, and have the necessary qualified instructors.  We welcome enquiries from other interested groups who would like to get involved in utilising the facilities.

The Lifeguard Clubs in the Vale, train throughout the year with their canoes/surf boards.
The local Sprint Kayakers have also indicated they wish to be able to train on the dock and it is used by Special Olympics Canoests.
The Intersensory Club of Barry, who already have a suitable boat for wheelchair bound persons, to be able to board from a ramp, and experience ‘life afloat’ have  transfer to our facility.

To make the project financially viable we need it to be used regularly by fee paying clients.
We have identified 80 local organisations who we plan to contact, to assess their interested in utilising the facilities at cost when available, and these include:-

SCHOOLS

Some 11 Welsh Education Authorities like Cardiff and Pembroke have a policy of combining with Welsh Sailing Association so that all school children to have the opportunity of experiencing Water Activities.

We consider it a prime aim to get Vale of Glamorgan Council to adopt such a policy.
With the increase in leaving age from education, we anticipate that Water Activities including sailing. can be very beneficial for an alternative curricular activity. This has been proved in Oxfordshire, where sail training has improved such youths, to gain self-confidence through such experiences, improving their development in other ways.

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

Some of these already have sailing and rowing organisations within their campuses, and we anticipate we can attract to them to use the proposed facilities.

SPECIAL NEEDS GROUPS –

There are numerous organisations in the Vale of Glamorgan for special needs, some of them already travel to Cardiff to avail their members of Boating Experiences, and have confirmed they would much prefer to arrange such activities locally.
We are planning that we will develop the national

“RYA SAILABILITY”

Sailability is the RYA’s national programme for disabled people who want to go boating regularly. Sailability is #MoreThanSailing. Sailors enjoy the outdoors, feel freedom on the water, are active, learn new skills, and build confidence.

Capability Sailing have a Hawk 20 based at our facility.

BR ADAPTIVE ROWING”

Scheme for the disabled, which we plan to include, when there are interested persons.

REHABILITATION PROJECTS

We envisage organisations such as the Amelia Trust will be interested in utilising the facilities to help to re-engage the young people in society.

UNIFORMED ORGANISATIONS

The Barry Sea Scouts and the Barry Sea Cadets are already involved and are Founder Users of the waters. There are other Scout and cadet groups who would like to include Boating activities in their training programme, and wish to use the facilities.

YOUTH CLUBS

Within the VoG there are many youth clubs some of which will jump at the opportunity of being able to offer their members opportunities or Canoeing, rowing and sailing.

PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS

The RNLI have previously shown an interest in utilising the docks for training.
Other organisations which already utilise the docks for training are the POLICE, especially the Sub Aqua Team, and the FIRE BRIGADE, who practise with their pumps etc.

SAILING CLUBS

The local sailing clubs have difficulties with dinghy sailing when the tides are unsuitable, and some have registered an interest in utilising the facilities, especially, to train and teach the younger members and cadet members sailing.

GENERAL PUBLIC

In time with the suitable Instructors we would hope to allow the general public to experience water activities, and thereby boost the possible membership for the specialist clubs.
So the potential uses of such a facility as we see it, is enormous.

THE FACILITIES

Our vision is to build a Permanent Facility to serve these uses.

  • The main building will have Offices, Reception, Staff Facilities.
  • At least 4 separate changing rooms each with showers and toilets
  • Storage facilities for the Users
  • At least two teaching rooms, kitchen and unisex toilets, a café with windows to view the activities.
  • Externally we require Pontoons, Launching ramps, and Moorings
  • Boat Storage Areas, with a Boat Hoist,
  • A disabled hoist to enable severely handicapped people to get into craft.
  • Parking for Cars, Minibuses and coaches.
  • Boat Repair workshops, Electricity and Water outlets.
  • Accommodation for overnight regattas etc. and Camping Areas will be investigated.