Sponsor Sam Hughes for True Grit Wetwheels Challenge 2022

Wetwheels Jersey provides the opportunity for all disabled people, including those with profound and complex disabilities, to access the sea in a safe, stimulating and rewarding way on board a specially built, fully-accessible powerboat.

The design features of Wetwheels Jersey enables people of all disabilities to participate in activities they perhaps otherwise would not be able to do.  These design features include wheelchair access to the boat with a ramp to the steering position with adapted controls to cater for people with reduced mobility.  The boat has space for family, friends and carers to share the experience with our disabled participants.

One of the unique aspects of the Wetwheels Jersey experience is the training we give to our skippers and volunteer crew.  All receive our tailored training for Disability Awareness in a Maritime Context, which helps our team members feel safe and confident in control of the boat.

By offering the opportunity to experience our wonderful marine environment – not just as passengers, but as active participants in a fun, safe, stimulating and rewarding way – we build confidence and improve physical and mental wellbeing.

Our trips are free of charge, so we rely on the generosity of our customers, donors and sponsors to maintain this unique service for as many people as possible.

By fundraising for Wetwheels Jersey, you are not only supporting our registered charity, but you are also supporting a great number of other local charities such as Mencap Jersey, Autism Jersey, Les Amis, Holidays for Heroes Jersey, Parkinson’s Society, Jersey Alzheimer’s Association. We also support The Primary Care Mental Health Service, which includes people living within the community as well as in care homes.

In 2019, we made 169 trips carrying 1,154 passengers, and funds raised from the True Grit Challenge 2020 will help go towards the running costs, extensive maintenance and training programmes, and enable us to invest in more equipment to make the onboard experience as thrilling and engaging as possible.

This season has been challenging for us in many ways as you would expect but we are already planning for 2021, and our aim to grow our passenger numbers to more than 1,200.

Thank you for your support and for sharing our vision to make Jersey’s rich and unique marine environment accessible to all.

Find out more here!