Charity Trustess Testwood Lakes Saiability

About this opportunity

Testwood Lakes Sailability (TLS) is seeking to appoint new Charity Trustees in 2026 to strengthen Board capability and support future growth. The Trust is particularly interested in candidates with:

  • The ambition is to help a small local charity develop a sustainable organisation.
  • Experience in local community organisations, in particular supporting vulnerable people and people with disabilities, would be desirable but not essential 
  • Experience as a Charity Trustee would be beneficial but not essential. 

 

Purpose & Vision

The charity supports people with any disability to gain access to dinghy sailing in a safe environment. Our customers are taken for a sail in dinghies which are specially built for the purpose. Each customer can do as much or as little as they wish. TLS runs a learn to sail program provided by the RYA and some of our customers learn to sail solo.

Over the 10 years that we have operated TLS has become a community offering “More than sailing” to both our customers and volunteers. TLSt has become a community of its own, offering a place for social interaction to many. 

The vision for the future is for TLS to continue its successful activity and to be a long term provider of dinghy sailing to the local disabled community.

Trustee Role and Commitment

Trustees play a pivotal role in setting strategy, ensuring good governance, and safeguarding the Trust’s values and impact. The Board typically meets four times a year at Testwood Lakes, Totton, with online access possible. There are also opportunities to contribute through informal working groups. The term is currently open ended.

Interested?

If you are interested in joining us in creating safer, stronger communities or would simply like more information, please contact trustees@testwood.org.uk  

Applications should include a CV and covering letter

 

About Testwood Lakes Sailability (1152637)

Testwood Lakes Sailability is a volunteer-run organisation operating at Testwood Lakes, Totton. We provide dinghy sailing to people with any disability on a Monday (Not BH) and Thursdays from April to the end of October. We operate out of the 4th Eling Sea Scouts Boathouse at Testwood Lakes. We have six Hansa Access 303 Dinghies which have positive buoyancy so will not sink even of full of water and are very difficult to capsize. We also have a wheelchair accessible pontoon together with hoists. The charity was created in June 2013 and started sailing in September 2016. In the nearly 10 years of operation, we have grown from an organisation of 20 volunteers with 2 dinghies to 70 volunteers and 6 dinghies. During this period, we have provided a total of over 7,000 sails. Our customer base is a combination of Day Services, Care Homes, Schools and specialist help groups, as well as a growing number of individual customers. Testwood Lakes Sailability was awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service in November 2025, which we are very honoured to receive. The Board of Trustees currently has only 4 trustees and needs to increase its knowledge base to take the charity forward into the future.

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