The Yorkshire Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has boosted the funding of the Sailfree initiative at Otley Sailing Club in West Yorkshire.

Paul Dresser, commercial director at Mansfield Pollard and vice chair of BESA Yorkshire, presented a cheque for £2,000 – the proceeds of a raffle that took place during the Yorkshire Region’s Annual Ball in Harrogate – in support of the initiative.

Sailfree operates under the national umbrella of Sailability, the charitable arm of the Royal Yachting Association, which provides sailing experiences to people with all types of disabilities and illnesses, giving them the chance to enjoy the freedom and independence that is not normally available to them. Year on year, Otley Sailing Club provides around 1000 volunteer-run sessions.

Ian White, chairman of Otley Sailing Club, said: “The support that BESA has given to the Otley Sailing Club has benefited numerous individuals and schools, and means that we can offer a sailing experience to many handicapped people.

“The £2000 will cover the majority of our running costs and upkeep of the boats for the year. Sailfree can’t survive without donations, and to have the continued support from the BESA Yorkshire Region is fantastic.”

Mr Dresser commented: “The BESA Yorkshire Region and the many companies supporting the annual event were delighted to be able to assist in the valuable work undertaken by Sailfree. It was a pleasure to hand over the cheque, and to witness first-hand the truly outstanding work that the club provides to the wider community.”