Page 30 - Ceufad Autumn 2022
P. 30

"Llandysul Paddlers has    What are the plans for the future?      Also listen to what they want – In this case a lot
                                    We have created a WhatsApp group so all the   of them didn’t want to go on the river yet and were
          a lot of young members    women can chat and get to know each other a   happier starting on the lake. Also Friday nights
               which then means     bit better. The plan is to organise a few more   seemed to be a popular option amongst a lot of
                                    sessions through The Outdoor Partnerships   people I spoke to. So, we went for a lake session
             there was a group of    This Girls Adventure at Llandysul Paddlers and   on a Friday evening and people showed up. Don’t
                                    give them the opportunity to have a say in what   over complicate it; they often don’t want anything
               mums somewhere       we do. For the first 2 sessions we ‘played it safe’   fancy at all!
                                                                             Llandysul Paddlers has a lot of young members
               watching, so there    and stuck to the lake. But if they are up for it,   which then means there was a group of mums
                                    we would love to show them what else Llandysul
           was already a group of    Paddlers offer and take them to different sites to   somewhere watching, so there was already a
                                    get more experience!                   group of women there ready to give it a go ... they
            women there ready to      The plan is then to link in with the She Paddles   just needed a little nudge! And this is probably the
                                    Cymru Programme; Llandysul Paddlers have been   case in a lot of clubs!
           give it a go ... they just    chosen as a pilot club so I can work closely with   Linking in with Canoe Wales and their She

           needed a little nudge!"  Lydia Wilford from Canoe Wales and Llandysul   Paddles Cymru Project would be a good idea
                                                                           too. They have festivals, one-off sessions, and
                                    Paddlers new Club Champion to ensure the group
                                    continues to enjoy these activities within the club.   ambassadors that could all be of help to the
                                                                           women in your groups.
                                    Any advice for clubs thinking of organising
                                    something similar?
                                    I would look at what the club has already and tap   MORE INFO
                                    into that. Are there enthusiastic female coaches   To find out more about The Outdoor
                                    within your club? If so, I would ask them is there a   Partnership and the support they can offer
                                    group they are passionate about developing. You   visit:
                                    often get different ideas when you ask a wider   www.outdoorpartnership.co.uk
                                    range of people for their input.




         30  |   CEUFAD
   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35