EIGHT enthusiastic participants arrived at Roadford Lake for a watersports taster day recently, thanks to funding from the European Regional Development fund's NEA2 program.

All the participants came off the water wanting to do more and signed up to take part in the 14-week watersports instructor course.

Angela Martelli, central area manager of South West Lakes Trust, said: 'It was great to see the eight enthusiastic participants arrive at Roadford Lake willing to have a go at whatever we had in store for them.'

The group enjoyed a day of learning to sail, run by chief instructor Bob Hindmarsh. The gentle start with light winds before lunch was followed by challenging conditions in the afternoon as the wind grew in strength.

The 14-week training course will see the students gaining the RYA Dinghy Instructor, powerboat level 2 and one day first aid qualifications. The 14 week watersports instructor course is funded by the Future Jobs Found. SWLT will offer suitable candidates work experience followed by seasonal instructor work at Roadford, Siblyback and Tamar Lakes.

Join work between NEA funding and SWLT has helped identify youngsters who needed a pathway to future job opportunities and to deliver this training.