MUCH-NEEDED funding has been awarded to a sailing club for people with disabilities and a karate group.

Havebury Housing Partnership has awarded WASH Sailability, based at Lackford Lakes near Bury St Edmunds, �5,750 and the Haverhill Wado Freestyle Karate Club �780 from its Community Investment Fund.

WASH Sailability will put the money towards an Access 303 dinghy - a boat with special controls that allows a person with disabilities to be taught to sail alongside an expert.

Michael Simpkin, treasurer of WASH Sailability, said the dinghy had been “desperately needed” by the 20 club members, who have had to share one other dinghy until now.

He said: “Once they are trained by one of our team they can go out on the lake on their own.

“On the water they are equal to able-bodied sailors, which means the world to them.”

Haverhill Wado Freestyle Karate Club will spent their grant on safety matting at the group’s base, the Chalkstone Community Centre.

Karate club treasurer Greg Malyon stressed that it would have taken members two or three years to save up the money for the new matting.

“We are extremely grateful to Havebury for their contribution to our club,” he said.

“Safety is of utmost importance to us and this donation means that we can make sure our members are fully looked after.”

Havebury chief executive, Karen Mayhew, said both clubs were worthy recipients of the grants.

She said: “Both groups are of great importance in the Suffolk area.

“WASH Sailability gives an enormous amount of freedom to people with disabilities.

“The karate club is somewhere the children can improve their health and fitness, at the same time as learning respect for others.”

Havebury is a charity and not-for-profit association with offices in Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill.

For more information on the partnership’s Community Investment Fund contact the Stronger Communities team on 01284 722034.