AN inspirational children’s charity which has taught thousands of Cornish youngsters to sail in the safety of the Helford River has become the lucky beneficiary of the neighbouring Budock Vean Golf Club.

Golfing members of all ages who play the beautiful course of the Budock Vean Hotel chose the Helford River Children’s Sailing Trust as their 2017 Charity and raised more than £3900 to help the trust’s dedicated work with young people.

The Sailing Trust with its scores of volunteers gives youngsters, including many with disabilities and special needs, the chance to get out on the water and work together, gaining skills and confidence and having huge amounts of fun in the process.

The money raised by the golfers in various events including the club’s charity day competition and auction was presented to Charles Richardson, co-chairman of the HRCST, at the Budock Vean Hotel where both organisations held their AGMs.

“We are constantly heartened by the good-will and generosity of organisations and individuals who help us to help young people,” says Charles Richardson. “The Budock Vean Hotel has helped the charity in many ways in recent years including funding for a new sailing dinghy in 2016 - and its owner Martin Barlow is one of our trustees.

“Now the golf club members have presented us with this generous cheque which is such an invaluable help: in our twenty years we have taken more than 7,000 children out on the river in sailing boats, kayaks and rowing boats and it’s a real privilege to see them working in teams and growing in confidence, as well as keeping fit and healthy and having fun.”

“We’ve always welcomed and encouraged younger golfers,” says Brian Hoskins, out-going Secretary of the Budock Vean Golf Club, “so it’s great to be able to support a brilliant charity which is right on our door-step and has a similar ethos of getting young people into the great outdoors and learning to love a sport.”

For more on the work of the Helford River Children’s Sailing Trust see hrcst.org.uk or for the Budock Vean Golf Club see https://www.budockvean.co.uk/golf-club-competitions or contact Golf Manager, Tony Ramsden, on 01326 252102.