In October 2025, Ian, the Development Officer at Delph Sailing Club, got in touch with Bolton CVS for some support. He wanted to find funding to run a Race Coach Level II course for members aged 16 and over.
Karen Arkwright, Senior Development Officer from Bolton CVS looked into the options and came back with three possible funders. Ian moved quickly and by February 2026 the Club had secured funding from The Eric Twiname Trust and started the training sessions.
Ian didn’t stop there! Even though he thought it might be a long shot, he also applied to the Sport England Movement Fund to help replace the club’s oldest safety boat and was successful in securing half the funding. A big part of that success was the video he created, which clearly showed why a new boat was needed.
That left Ian with the challenge of raising the remaining amount of £4,750 from 25 supporters. It wasn’t easy timing, as members had only just paid their annual fees, so he knew it would be tough. He started by talking to members to get their backing, then created a crowdfunding campaign with a clear message and the same powerful video. He also reached out to Karen again, and together they worked out the best way to launch the fundraiser. Bolton CVS provided practical support and guidance throughout.
Early donations helped build momentum and once the campaign went live, support quickly grew. Members shared their own stories about what the club meant to them, creating a real buzz and helping the campaign go beyond its target.
In the end, it was a fantastic example of a community coming together with pride and enthusiasm. Members showed real generosity and creativity, united by a shared goal. The support and guidance along the way gave Ian and the team the confidence to run a campaign that really connected with people.
The fundraiser didn’t just bring in money – it brought people closer together, encouraged members to share their stories and highlighted just how much the club means to everyone involved.
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Ian Brown, Club Development Officer, said:
“When we were asked to match-fund nearly £5,000 from Sports England, we thought that it would be an almost impossible task but the help we received from Bolton CVS and in particular Karen who agreed to meet with me at short notice to run through our campaign was invaluable.
It gave me the confidence to launch the campaign and her suggestion of adding the naming rights as a reward was a stroke of genius that led not only to the success of the campaign in a very short time frame, but a very emotional resolution through a significant legacy grant to keep alive the name of a recently departed member. As a volunteer I am so grateful to have access to the experienced team at Bolton CVS.”
