DISABILITY sport in Weymouth and Portland is set to receive a welcome boost.

Chesil Sailability have received an £8,820 award from Sport England to purchase training and safety equipment.

Chesil Sailability is a local voluntary organisation, which according to Lisa O’Keefe, Sport England’ director of insight, “is playing a transformative role in opening up the sport of sailing, to many people who would have previously found it inaccessible”.

The award is part of Sport England’s ‘Get Equipped’ fund which was designed to build on the success of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Hugh de Iongh, chairman of Chesil Sailability, said: “This is a fantastic show of support from Sport England for disability sailing and will enable us to purchase essential equipment to keep us safe on the water.

“It will also help us train and develop our sailors, so they can reach their full potential on and off the water.”

The local group is passionate about sailing and encouraging participation, regardless of disability and enabling individuals to achieve their goals in sailing.

Chesil Sailability sails out of the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy and anyone wanting to find out more can contact the organisation at anya@chesilsailability.org.uk