Our Aim is the delivery of high quality, safe and enjoyable sailing to the Visually Impaired community
Sailing Aims
We have been running trips throughout the sailing seasons since 2009 using a range of yachts from different locations around the UK. Most our trips has been around the South Coast of England through our links with UKSA, though since 2022 we have been running annual trips in Milford Haven in Wales and Cross the English Channel and biennial trips from Largs Scotland and in Spain. In 2025 we ran our first young adults (18 to 25) trips.
Our future plans are continue to do this but also offer sailing to a range of sailors from new, novice to experienced sailors. We will aim to take part in racing events on annual basis in GB and run self-funded trips abroad. We will develop closer links with yacht charter charities and companies as well as local visually impaired organisations and charities to provide sailing to more visually impaired adults at an affordable price. All our UK based trips will continue to be heavily subsidised, subject to funding, but we may provide concessionary rates where we are able can to those who need some financial support.
Please keep an eye out for our regular newsletters and emails which will give details of our plans.
If you have any queries please contact us at membership@visa-gb.org.uk.
Current entry
Fundraising
Sailing trips for blind and partially sighted people can seem expensive. We try and do our best to keep the costs down by raising funds. The cost of each trip will be included when we advertise them and will depend on how much funds we have been able to raise throughout the previous year.
Fundraising is an important part of helping us broaden the horizons for Visa-gb members and where appropriate look to ease the financial burden for those most in need. We are also looking for sponsorship that will allow us to deliver taster sessions free of charge, many people feel sailing is out of reach, too expensive and elitist. At Visa-gb we want to break these barriers down by showing the benefits to well-being, the benefits of social interaction, the benefits of teamwork, learning new skills and the increase in self-confidence that our trips brings. Our donors make all this possible and we welcome the opportunity to partner with companies in their quest to support our visually impaired community.
Over the years our members and volunteers have been generous with their donations. Every penny has gone towards reducing the cost of our trips. You can donate to Visa-GB here: https://www.justgiving.com/charity/visa-gb
Policies
BOOKING, CANCELLATION, PAYMENT AND TRAVEL INSURANCE POLICY
When you expresses an interest in booking one of our trips you will need pay a deposit (non-refundable) equal to a third of the total cost if you wish to secure your place. To help spread the cost we then require two further payments of a third eight and four weeks before the start of the voyage. You can of course pay the full amount up front which helps our cash flow!
Please note the deposit is non-refundable.
If you wish to cancel the trip after you have paid any remaining instalments after the deposit, or the full amount we will only refund two thirds of the total cost of the trip and only if we can find a replacement. However, no refund will be given if the you cancel four weeks or less before the start date of the trip or we are unable to find a replacement.
Please note: for overseas trips which are sourced by Visa GB through a tour operator, all cancellation costs and refunds are subject to their terms and conditions which may differ from Visa GB’s cancellation policy, however, for all cases, the deposit paid is non refundable.
As a small Charity we are unable to absorb any loses as a result of a cancellation, it is therefore, important that when booking a trip with us you take out travel insurance, which includes medical and cancellation cover. There are specialist sailing companies that will provide cover.
If we cancel or postpone the trip, for example, because of government advice, you will be eligible for a full refund including the deposit. In the case of a trip being moved to another date a participant who wishes to secure a place on the new date will be able to do so with the amount they have paid.
Updated September 2025
Members and their input
With membership of Visa-gb increasing from a handful in 2009 to about 200 now we are a growing community and the demand to run more trips and a range of trips is also growing, While we plan to run some of our regular sailing events, we would welcome suggestions on other trips we may run, new locations where we sail and the length of our trips.
Safeguarding Policy
Safeguarding Adults –
‘Safeguarding means protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is about people and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure that the adult’s wellbeing is promoted including, where appropriate, having regard to their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action. This must recognise that adults sometimes have complex interpersonal relationships and may be ambivalent, unclear or unrealistic about their personal circumstances.
Visa-gb values are underpinned by these safeguarding policy commitments.
Visa-gb Board of Trustees are committed to ensuring a continual improvement in safeguarding practice and to support this have endorsed the policy commitments:
Promoting a safe and trusted environment and a culture that prioritises safeguarding.
All Visa-gb volunteers and trustees will respect adults at risk and promote their well-being first and foremost.
Visa-gb will strive to create and maintain environments which are safe for everyone who has dealings with Visa-gb. This will be achieved by:
• Volunteer training;
• effective communication;
• organisational learning,
• monitoring events, meetings and communication to ensure good practice is maintained at all times.
Visa-gb will train all volunteers and trustees in working to this policy by challenging poor practices and reporting all safeguarding concerns and abuse to the nominated trustee.
Trustees: Safeguarding role and responsibilities
Trustees must take reasonable steps to protect those connected with Visa-gb from harm. This includes:
• people who benefit from Visa-gb activities
• volunteers
• other people connected to Visa-gb activities.
‘Any failure by trustees to manage safeguarding risks adequately would be a serious regulatory concern to the Charity Commission who may consider misconduct and/or mismanagement in the administration of Visa-gb and may be a breach of trustee duty’. Trustees can be held responsible for any consequences or loss that Visa-gb incurs if they have not followed their duties.
Visa-gb Trustees will ensure:
• there is a clear line of responsibility for and reporting to them safeguarding matters;
• that safeguarding practice complies with statutory and national guidance and local best practices;
• the reporting procedures to deal with safeguarding concerns and allegations are clear and easy to follow;
• roles and responsibilities are explicitly outlined and clear to all attending a Visa-gb event.
• Any failures by any person connected with Visa-gb to follow the safeguarding policy and procedures will be dealt with as a serious matter;
• there is a culture of learning from poor practice;
• there is a clear recruitment procedure in place which is linked to the wider safeguarding process;
• Effective and ongoing appropriate safeguarding training for all Visa-volunteers and trustees, is provided when needed;
• Effective and accurate record keeping in accordance with GDPR 2018 and;
• serious incidents are reported to the Charity Commission in accordance with their statutory obligations.
Visa-gb Safeguarding Officer, David Thompson, can be contacted on 07736 300875 or by email at: safeguarding@visa-gb.org.uk. All reports and information are treated as strictly confidential.
The Trustees of Visa-gb confirm that the Visually Impaired Sailing Association abides and complies with the RYA safeguarding for adults policy,
Open the RYA Safe Adults Safeguarding PDF:
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