The Coquet Shorebase
The Coquet Shorebase has a history of providing educational watersports going back nearly 70 years. Originally a Nautical Training base run through the Coquet High School at Amble, on the Northumberland coast, it is now a Community Watersports Centre providing affordable watersports training and recreation for the local community. As a registered charity, our aims reflect the social and education benefits these activities can bring to participants. Our main activity base is Ladyburn Lake, part of Druridge Bay Country Park, where we run sailing, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing and raft building activities. What can we offer to schools? You may just want a fun end of year session or a series of skills training sessions leading to a certificate. However, all our sessions will have an emphasis on team-work, confidence building, problem solving and water safety, not forgetting enjoyment, challenge and getting to know each other better, appreciating everyone’s strengths and weaknesses. Let us know your aims and objectives and we will tailor our sessions to these. For example, the most popular activity for a half-day session (up to 24 pupils), particularly with First Schools, involves splitting the group into two, and giving them 50 mins in sit-on-top kayaks and 50 mins on the big Stand up Paddleboards, swapping over half way through the session. It’s a lot of fun, really boosts water confidence and emphasizes teamwork and helping others. (Cost is £280). We can also offer improvised raft building (suitable for the older age group), and sailing or windsurfing for smaller groups. Activities really are for everyone. We work regularly with people with a wide range of physical and mental disabilities; our facilities are wheelchair accessible and we have Sailability and Paddle Ability approval status. It isn’t just about introductory sessions. We have three affiliated clubs (for Canoeing, Windsurfing and Sailing), which can use all our equipment, and provide a low- cost means of continuing activities for those who live locally. Many of our enthusiastic instructors are drawn from club members. Our other facility is situated at Amble, on the banks of the Coquet, which offers a more challenging environment for more advanced paddling or sailing activities. Both centres have changing rooms and hot showers. Wetsuits, cagoules and buoyancy aids are provided. We are licensed by AALA, an RYA training centre and hold the British Canoeing Quality Mark. See our webpage for more details about The Coquet Shorebare: click here Or contact us info@coquetshorebase.org.uk to discuss your ideas.