OBWSC Autumn Update
A Growing Season for the Centre
Things have been increasingly busy at OBWSC since the Charity was formed in 2022. The 2025/26 season has been no exception, with a wide range of activities taking place across all age groups, with attendances on the rise.
Faced with closure in 2021, a willing team of volunteers and Trustees – under the leadership of Graham Colam, the Centre Manager and Principal – have ensured that this much-valued local facility continues to offer an extensive programme of water sports opportunities to the local community and beyond.
The Centre now offers sailing, wingsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, powerboat training and First Aid courses – along with newly introduced coastal rowing and the return of windsurfing (see below).
Thanks to the support of local councillors, and sponsors, and various grants, the Centre now benefits from a fully updated range of equipment and is looking forward to a more sustainable future.
Graham says: “With the invaluable support of our volunteers and support teams, we are gradually expanding our offer and are looking forward to an exciting future. We are determined to ensure that our activities – which are often life-changing – are available to everyone, particularly young people in our community, regardless of their ability to pay. We have received significant grant support so far to enable this in 2025. Our plans going forward will offer even more water sports opportunities on Oulton Broad.”
Almost 1,500 Young People Reached
For many years, OBWSC has offered fun and educational experiences to young people in our community. That continued in a big way this year – with almost 1,500 children attending sessions, either with their schools during term time or at our ever-popular Summer Activity Weeks.
These sessions help young people build water confidence, learn new skills, work in teams and, in many cases, work towards recognised qualifications.
“My child had the best time at one of your Activity Weeks in the summer and really enjoyed every single day. Mayson hopes that he might return to take part in more water sports in the future.”
– Charlene May, Parent
“We can wholeheartedly say that this programme made a lasting impact on our students’ lives and is something we would absolutely do again. Thank you, Oulton Broad Water Sports Centre for delivering such a vital experience and for your dedication to making water safety accessible and enjoyable for children in Lowestoft. We are thrilled to continue this partnership and can’t wait to see how these skills will continue to benefit our students in the years to come.”
– Poplars Primary School
Formal RYA Courses Proving Popular
Our programme of Royal Yachting Association (RYA) courses continues to grow. From Sailing and Powerboat Training to Wingsurfing, Windsurfing and First Aid, these internationally recognised qualifications are always in demand.
Paddlecraft Hire in High Demand
Our paddlecraft hiring service has proved especially popular with both local people and visitors.
Thanks to the support of new volunteer recruit Iola van Haren, we were able to offer hire sessions not only during the day, but also in the evenings and on weekends. Subject to weather conditions, this will continue throughout the Autumn.
New and Returning Activities
This year we are excited for the first time to be including rowing and coastal sculling as part of our water sports offer. It was great to provide initial junior taster sessions at the summer holiday activity weeks and begin schools outreach sessions with East Point Academy and Ormiston Denes Academy in partnership with East Anglia Youth Rowing www.eayr.org.
OBWSC also ran its first beach sprint taster day on South beach for a rowing club wanting to try the new Olympic sport.
We are also delighted to be working in partnership with British Rowing www.britishrowing.org to provide the base for their Lowestoft Coastal Sculling Academy https://www.facebook.com/groups/752379073540369/ It is tasked to focus on development of a community offer alongside a talent identification programme for beach sprints.
“We’re really proud to be introduce coastal sculling skills and river rowing to Oulton Broad Water Sports Centre for the first time . The feedback so far has been brilliant so are excited to be expanding the centre’s rowing offer over the coming year through courses and the new British Rowing affiliated OBWSC Sculling Club. Watch this space for further information! “
– Jeni Barnacle OBWSC Sculling Club Secretary & Co-Lead, British Rowing Lowestoft Coastal Sculling Academy
We also welcomed back Windsurfing after a break of several years. RYA-certified windsurfing courses are now available at both beginner and instructor level.
New website and growing social media
You may have noticed we’ve launched a brand new website and increased our activity on Facebook and Instagram. These changes have made a big difference.
“We are really seeing the benefits of the increased social media posts, and the new website has driven increased interest and bookings and helped enormously to improve our efficiency. Our thanks for this go out to Jonathan Brown of JB Creative Marketing – who has both built the new website and continues to offer advice to OBWSC.”
– Richard, OBWSC Management Team
Looking ahead
With the warmth of summer behind us, the Centre continues to offer a range of courses and activities throughout the autumn. These are regularly updated on our website, Facebook and Nextdoor.
We’re also planning to run team-building and corporate activity days. If you are a business or organisation looking for something different and challenging for your teams, please get in touch – we’ll help you build a bespoke day on the water. Our local hotel and catering partners are ready to support your visit too.
Autumn also sees the launch of our First Aid courses, now available to book online.
Gift vouchers now available online
And with Christmas on the horizon, why not consider an OBWSC Gift Voucher as a special present for a friend or loved one? Gift vouchers can now be ordered by enquiring online at www.obwsc.co.uk
Thank You !
A huge thanks to all of our customers, volunteers, helpers, staff and supporters. Without you, we simply wouldn’t be able to continue providing what we believe is an invaluable local service – one that originally began back in 1987.
If you have any questions or suggestions, we’d love to hear from you.
Call us, visit the website or just drop by and say hello.
If you’ve enjoyed your experience with us, please consider leaving a review on Google!
All the best
Team OBWSC
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