Latest news with #RYA
The Hindu
01-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
As a new academic year is set to begin, an invitation to another wave of college students
If you popped by now, you would notice the home-page header has relinquished its top slot, offering it magnanimously to a tangerine-coloured panel. It is the season (one returning every year) when this transfer of power happens. Ensconced at the top, the panel 'hollers' at you: 'RYA Book Registration Open. New Application Registration Open from 12-05-2025.' The announcement ends with a blinking imperative, one demanding a click of the mouse: the hyperlink leads you to a page where old members can check in with their credentials, and to-be members start the registration process with the Rajasthan Youth Association (RYA) Book Bank. The student can check off the course and the year for which registrations are open. Proceeding infield, the student has to provide a wide range of details, the highlights being Aadhar card and 12th mark certificate and college details to establish the registrant is a bona fide college student seeking textbooks on loan. By the time they wrap up the process — either registering a new member or an old member looking for new textbooks — they have an inkling of what made RYA Book Bank a synonym for cost-free lending of college textbooks in the Chennai Metropolitan Area. Beyond the Rajasthani community's commitment to social responsibility and the dedication of the book bank team, there is a clear and undeniable element — digitalisation of mundane processes. Technology has reduced the workload on the team at RYA Book Bank, which largely consists of volunteers whose time is a freewill gift, and cannot be coaxed out of them, even less demanded. Casting his mind back to the time when a truckload of processes were carried out manually, Raj Kumar Dugar, past chairman of RYA Book Bank, presents the contrast ushered in by technology: 'Students' records are now better maintained, and caution deposit payments (just ₹ 500) have become more convenient. Earlier, payments were made in cash at the office, which was difficult when staff were unavailable. Now, all transactions are processed smoothly through banking channels, eliminating cash handling.' Non-profits struggle with marshalling human resources, and RYA Book bank has demonstrated how technology brings a shedload of invisible hands to the deck. Interactions between the staff and students happen more online than at Atkinson Street in Vepery, where RYA Book Bank is located. RYA Book bank has impressive numbers to bear this out — be it the number of colleges, beneficiary-students or the textbooks distributed — and much of it was racked up in the last 10-12 years through digital processes. On the e-registration form, the dropbox for colleges seems to list every college in the Greater Chennai, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu districts, displaying RYA Book Bank's immense reach. The years behind RYA Book Bank, born in 1963 — do the math and know the distance of this charity run. At any given time, more than 9,000 students are in possession of books provided by the project, says Raj Kumar. He continues: more than 1.45 lakh students have benefited from the project since its inception, and each year, over 1,500 sets of books are distributed. Initially, the book bank built the girth of its books inventory by collecting old textbooks from outgoing students, and as this approach was riddled with 'if's' (the major 'if' having to do with the willingness of the students who have bought textbooks from the market to part with them), the switch was made to purchasing new textbooks under various disciplines and loaning, collecting and reloaning them till the book displays the effects of age and sustained use and, of course, slips out of the curriculum on account of a syllabus rethink. Donors are encouraged to support the initiative in any of two ways: Gyan Deep (a donation of ₹11,000 to cover the textbook costs for the entire course of a student in the arts, science and commerce streams) and Vidya Deep (a donation of ₹21,000 for a deserving engineering student for the entire eighth semester). On the future trajectory of this RYA Book Bank, Raj Kumar notes the project is considering the integration of e-books into its offerings. He is quick to qualify it: 'However, it presents certain challenges, especially since students still prefer reading from physical books. The effectiveness of building a robust e-book section is yet to be determined.' For this year, RYA Book Bank registrations close on August 31, 2025.
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Daily Record
Cruel thief leaves horrible scene at Scots charity with toys 'covered in blood'
Police were alerted to the break-in after staff turned up to find what looked like a 'murder scene' with blood on the walls and floor. A cruel thief has left children's toys in a Scots charity covered in blood during an early morning robbery. Royston Youth Action alerted police to the break-in after staff turned up at the Charles Street premises on Friday, May 16, to find what looked like a 'murder scene' with blood on the walls and floor, reports Glasgow Live. It was later discovered a thief had cut themselves when entering through a window they had smashed. Thousands of pounds worth of games, music equipment, speakers, electric guitars, art equipment and gaming systems were among the items taken, the charity say. While they are still counting the cost of the break-in, they have been forced to call in crime scene cleaners and dispose of blood-soaked items. Project Manager Sharon Kelly said: "One of the staff came in the morning and saw blood on the floor and called the police. It wasn't until Monday that we got in after the forensics had taken samples of the blood. "It was really bad. There was blood in every room and things that had been contaminated had to be binned. "We've not had the time to count up everything that was stolen or had to be thrown out. But it is certainly a good few thousand pounds worth of stuff. "It's not just the big stuff like Playstations, we will also need to replace bean bags, cushions and art supplies. It's been deflating. "We've been providing these opportunities for young people in the area for over 30 years and nothing like this has happened before. The only time we usually close is Christmas time and a week in the summer to deep clean. " Closing will definitely affect the kids who come here. Some come three or four times a week and they get food while they are here." Sharon and the team are now hard at work trying to open again next week. Sharon continued: "We're going to re-open again next week, bigger and better. "No one is ever going to stop us from helping our local community." Councillor Allan Casey slammed the incident, he said: "I'm absolutely devastated for the young people and staff affected by this disgusting act. RYA is a fantastic organisation doing incredible work for the young people of Royston and the surrounding areas. "For them to suffer a break-in, with vital equipment and resources stolen — items that directly support young people in the community — is heartbreaking. They should not have to deal with this kind of senseless behaviour. Our community stands with them, and we will do everything we can to support their work moving forward.' A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 2pm on Friday, 16 May, 2025, we received a report of a break-in to and theft from a premises on Charles Street, Glasgow. ' Enquiries are ongoing.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
British Triple Amputee Is Making Record-Breaking Sail Across The Pacific Ocean
British Triple Amputee Is Making Record-Breaking Sail Across The Pacific Ocean. Afghan war veteran Craig Wood is sailing over the entirety of the Pacific Ocean despite being a triple amputee. The British hero is currently, as of 23 April. well over 3000 nautical miles into his epic voyage - having caught the trade winds to boost his progress. The 33-year-old former Army rifleman from Doncaster, United Kingdom is sailing 7,000 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean in total. He set off from La Paz in Mexico on 25 March and his gruelling expedition will end in Osaka in Japan after a predicted 80 days. Despite the hardships he is relishing the epic trip - one that has caused fully able bodied sailors huge problems in the past. Craig lost both legs and his left hand in an IED blast in Afghanistan in 2009. His face was also ravaged by shrapnel. Waking up 14 days later from an induced coma, nothing would ever be the same again. It took eight months for Craig to learn to walk again and four-and-a-half years of rehabilitation work to improve his quality of life. It should come as no surprise that he is doing well, however, as Craig is the world's first triple amputee to achieve a RYA (Royal Yachting Association Yachtmaster) qualification. Supporting his record-breaking sail are his partners Team Forces, Boxxe, Collins Aerospace, Ottobock and Palo Alto and you can follow his adventures on Instagram, TikTok and other social media platforms on @Craigwoodsails.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sailing academy at risk of closure if Olympic team leaves due to incinerator
WEYMOUTH and Portland stand to lose its world class sailing academy and the training base for Olympians due to the waste incinerator, it was warned today. The facility at Osprey Quay has said its financial viability could be jeopardised if the British Olympic Sailing Team leaves - which its athletes have threatened if the incinerator is built nearby at Portland Port. The loss to the area would be about £5 million a year plus 50 jobs. The warning comes as campaigners head to the High Court today for a legal challenge to the government's controversial decision to award Powerfuel Portland planning permission for its £100 million energy recovery facility. Laura Baldwin competed in the 2004 Olympics as a sailor and has been a vocal campaigner against the waste incinerator (Image: Cristiano Magaglio) Protesters are heading up by coach for the hearing - which has come about after a local campaign raised funds to pay for the legal fees and mount a challenge. The incinerator scheme has left the future of Olympic athletes using the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy in doubt. They are worried about air quality and the effect on their health, claiming the incinerator poses a "grave threat to the future of sailing in the UK". The academy, which was built in 2005, has long been the home of the Olympic sailing team and took centre stage in the 2012 Games when it was the base for competitions and the medal ceremony. READ: British Sailing to research health impact of Portland incinerator The WPNSA has been the home to the British Olympic Sailing team since 2012 (Image: Newsquest) The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy statement in full (Image: WPNSA) But the academy said the departure of the Olympic sailing team - which it describes as a 'raison d'être for its existence' - would 'jeopardise its financial viability and have a detrimental effect on its image and credibility'. A spokesperson added: "If the closure became reality, the loss to Weymouth and Portland would be in the order of £5 million per annum brought to the area by competitors and visitors, in an addition to the 50 direct and indirect jobs the academy supports." It comes after the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), the national governing body for all forms of recreational and competitive boating, called on Powerfuel Portland demanding clarity for its athletes over potential health implications. The current British Olympic Sailing Team has been opposed to the waste incinerator on Portland due to health concerns (Image: Supplied)READ: Olympic sailors threaten to leave Portland over incinerator In a letter the RYA said: "We are calling on allay the fears of our athletes by providing greater clarity on the approach taken to environmental modelling and how this was applied to the human health data assessment. "This reassurance is essential as we all want Portland to remain the home of British sailing. "The RYA's heritage and connection with Portland is deeply rooted. We have close ties to Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy which is host to multiple significant international and national events annually, which play a substantial role in supporting Portland's tourist economy." The design of the new training base at the WPNSA for British Olympic athletes (Image: RYA) The RYA previously revealed £9 million plans to build a new training base at the site for a 'world-class performance and innovation centre' alongside the existing sailing academy. READ: Ellie Aldridge hits out at Portland waste incinerator plans The letter continued: "The health and wellbeing of all participants in our sport, particularly our athletes, is a paramount concern to the RYA, and while we did not object to the planning application in 2020 on the grounds of navigational safety, there are now many questions being raised regarding potential impacts to human health from the incinerator, should it go ahead." Planning permission and an environmental permit has been issued for the project with Powerfuel Portland planning on proceeding with the incinerator. An artists impression of the planned waste incinerator on Portland Giles Frampton, director, Powerfuel Portland, said: 'Powerfuel responded to a letter from the RYA confirming that the Environment Agency (EA) had issued the project with a permit to operate. In its decision letter the EA explicitly confirms: 'the permit will ensure that a high level of protection is provided for the environment and human health.' "The Environment Agency is the UK regulator for such matters and, following a three year process which included a focus on air quality, has concluded the Portland Energy Recovery Facility will not result in harmful health impacts. "It is not clear what qualification or evidence the RYA has to disagree with the Environment Agency's conclusion."
BBC News
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Couple days away from completing Atlantic challenge
A couple in their 60s are proving an adventurous spirit does not stop with age as they reach the final stages of a transatlantic rowing and Bob Parr are taking part in the 3,000 mile World's Toughest Row event after setting off from Spain in have been rowing two hours each in their boat, named after Mrs Parr's father, who was a medal-winning rower in couple, who are expected to arrive in Antigua on Friday, are raising money for ex-servicemen through charity Pilgrim Bandits. Mr Parr's sister Kate Parker said the pair met in Hereford when Bob, 67, was in the services and have always had a strong sense of adventure."They're very supportive of each other in their ambitions - Nicky particularly of Bob because of having been in the services - he's gone all over the world and she has literally followed her man," she said. "Bob has led an incredibly adventurous life, both in the services and when he left in 2000, he went and worked in the film industry, worked in Hollywood and went and travelled all over the world for various different productions that he was involved in."I think it's very hard as you head into your late 60s and 70s and you've lived on adrenalin all your life to give it up."The idea to take part in the challenge came from Mr Parr, his sister said, although he would only do it with his 62-year-old couple subsequently got their RYA qualification for seamanship, "so she knows what she's doing", Ms Parker said."Over time they're just developed this desire to do things. I think it's just become part of who they are," she Parr is is a patron for Pilgrim Bandits New Zealand and "the whole point of Pilgrim Bandits is to encourage people who have lived adventurous lives.. to get back out there and feel how they used to feel," Ms Parker the couple had struggled with the two-hour rowing shifts as well as the total physicality of the trip, but what they had loved most had been wildlife."They've loved the wildlife and I think being out of the everyday mix of the world," she added. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
