Sailability issues SOS as chair Aly Gunn steps down following 21 years' service
A LYMINGTON charity which helps disabled people try sailing has warned it could be sunk if it cannot find a new chairperson soon.
Sailability’s “charismatic and capable” leader Aly Gunn is stepping down from her role as chair after more than 20 years of service, as reported in the A&T.
Volunteers at the charity say they are struggling to find a replacement for her, and other trustee board members, so the organisation can stay afloat.
During the April to October sailing season it offers about 50 trips per month to groups of varying sizes.
Pat Freshwater, who helps train Sailability users and manages the organisation’s marketing, said finding people has been “challenging”.
She added: “I would love to do it but I work full-time and there are lots of people who are in the exact same position as me.
“If we cannot increase our number of trustees very soon then we may need to start talking to the Charities Commission about whether we’re viable as a charity any more.
“I’m not sure what happens if we decide we don’t have a valid trustees board any more.”
Prior to the Covid lockdown Sailability had around 150 active members who could help take disabled people out on the water, but the organisation is now down to around 25 active members.
Pat said: “We’ve got fantastic assets and lots of boats, including a trimaran, RIBs and a glass bottomed boat for taking young people out to look under the sea’s surface.
“We of course also have the support of the Royal Yachting Association but we need trustees, and especially a chairperson, who can really drive our work forward.
“We’ve had a couple of people express an interest in being the next chair but none of them were quite like Aly – with that same passion and drive to run this charity like a CEO would run a business.”
She told the A&T Aly’s replacement will have big shoes to fill.
“Aly has been our chair for 21 years,” Pat said. “She is charismatic and capable and is an exceptional sailor in her own right.
“Thanks to her incredible connections, we have maintained sponsorship from various local businesses and she’s helped us maintain our relationship with the Princess Royal, which has been vital to us.
“Unfortunately, however, throughout the Covid pandemic and ever since, our board of trustees has been decimated.
“At one time we had a strong board of eight or nine trustees, but now we’re effectively down to one, after people moved on or health conditions overtook their ability to volunteer.”
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