Volvo RYA Youth Programme shortlisted for awards

Volvo RYA Youth Programme shortlisted for two top sponsorship awards

2001 saw the Volvo RYA Youth Sailing Programme win the coveted Hollis Sports Sponsorship Award over three major football sponsorships. In 2002, the programme continues to go from strength to strength, and has been short listed for two top sponsorship awards.

The programme has been short listed in the 'Best Programme or Event' category in the inaugural Sport Industry Awards, to be announced on 16 April at the Park Lane Hilton Hotel in London. In the Hollis Awards, the programme has been short listed in the 'Continuity' category. This category is open to sponsorships of four years or more that have evolved to attract the target audience. The winner will be announced on the 22nd April, at the Cafe Royal in London. The Volvo Youth Sailing Programme is up against the Orange Prize for fiction, the Marsh & McLennan Rugby Varsity Match and the Nationwide English Football League.

Open to organisations of all sizes, the Hollis Awards, with the support of the European Sponsorship Consultants Association, sets out to recognise excellence and effectiveness within the sponsorship industry, the key criterion being the ability to demonstrate the success of a sponsorship campaign. Budgets are irrelevant, the Volvo RYA Youth Sailing Programme having just a fraction of the resources available to the likes of the Nationwide Football League.

In 1997, Volvo added sailing to it portfolio sports sponsorships that included, golf, mountain biking and motor sport, with the purchase of the Volvo Ocean Race and the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships.

Since 1998 the RYA and Volvo Car UK Ltd, along with sponsorship agency Marketing Activity Ltd, have developed a comprehensive Youth Sailing Programme, which supports young sailors from club level to international competition level and ultimately feeding young talent into the RYA Olympic Development Programme.

The Volvo RYA Youth Sailing Programme is regarded as one of the most advanced and comprehensive youth sport programmes in the UK. It is supported by Sport England; last year sailing became the first sport to receive lottery funding for a dedicated youth programme, to the tune of £1 million per annum, ongoing for four years.

In 2001 Volvo added to its involvement with youth and junior sailing, by entering into a joint sponsorship with Musto Performance Clothing. The Volvo Musto Optimist Championships incorporating three key events, the Inland, Nationals and End of Seasons.

Volvo's sponsorship ethos has always been to support the grass roots of any sport along with the high profile professional aspect of the sport. The sponsorship has not just benefited the future of British sailors, but Volvo have effectively raised brand awareness to an audience they see as key.

The Volvo RYA Youth Sailing Programme now consists of 6 innovative new programmes. Together they form a clear step-by-step path for young sailors to follow, allowing them to go as far as they aspire, on the road to success.

Volvo RYA Champion Club Programme

At grass roots level across the UK, the RYA is assisting sailing clubs and recognised teaching establishments to establish junior race training programmes that will encourage more young people to participate in sailing and start racing.

At this level, our vision is to provide young people, whatever their age or ability with high standards of coaching, competition, social activities and environmental awareness. This programme is co-ordinated nationally and supported locally by the RYA High Performance Managers.

Volvo RYA Zone Squad Programme

The Zone Squad delivers a comprehensive range of coaching, training, off-water workshops and competition guidance to the selected sailors, alongside each sailors club programme. The six High Performance Managers oversee the Squad Programmes, working closely with their team of Zone Coaches. The most talented sailors will be encouraged to attend the National Qualifiers to win selection to the National Junior Squads.

RYA National Junior Squad Programme

The National Junior Squad Programme targets around 260 of the most talented British boys and girls aged between 12-15 years to provide them with their first phase of advanced race training.

It then delivers a combination of one-to-one and squad based coaching, training and competition guidance to the selected sailors. The High Performance Managers oversee all aspects of each sailor's development offering advice, encouragement and support. They also work closely with each sailors National Coach and their parents to help create an awareness and understanding of the commitment, standards and support required to fulfil their potential.

Volvo RYA Transitional Youth Squad

This is an option stage that aims to support the most talented graduates of the National Junior Squad programme to progress into the demanding National Youth Squad Programme. The RYA coaching team continually assesses each sailor's progress and sailors are encouraged to attend the National Qualifiers to win selection to the National Youth Squad Programme.

Volvo RYA National Youth Squad

The National Youth Squad Programme targets around 140 of the most talented British boys and girls normally aged between 15-18 years to provide them with their second phase of advanced race training.

Volvo RYA Great Britain Youth Team

The six RYA High Performance Managers oversee all aspects of each sailor's development offering advice, encouragement and support. Selected sailors will have a long-term training plan, set in the context of future Olympic success.

Three Olympic Gold Medallists Ben Ainslie, Shirley Robertson and Iain Percy are retained by Volvo as ambassadors to the Volvo RYA Youth Sailing Programme and are used to inspire young sailors through visits to youth championships, talks and other events.

Martin Laurence from Volvo Car UK explained "We are delighted to once again receive recognition for the Volvo RYA Youth Sailing programme, which has proved very beneficial for both Volvo and the sport. Through the Volvo RYA Champion Club scheme our dealers have been able to build relationships with, and support their local sailing communities; whilst our support of the progressive Volvo RYA youth squads has resulted in a clear path to the top for our young sailors and future Olympic medallists."

Steve Joel, the RYA's Youth Racing Manager said "We are very pleased to hear that the Volvo RYA Youth Programme has been shortlisted again for these top national sponsorship awards. 2001 saw great success for our youth sailorsinternationally, who have benefited tremendously from this programme and I hope Youth Sailing in the UK can be rewarded accordingly."