On Saturday 15 August 2026, The Neurodivergence Project will be joining Carsington Sailing Club for their Summer Splash Open Day at Carsington Water Sailing Club, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 1SU.
The day is a free family event giving people of all ages the opportunity to try sailing and watersports in a friendly and welcoming environment.
Activities will include sailing, windsurfing, paddleboarding and accessible sailing tasters, giving people the chance to experience something new on the water.
Carsington Sailing Club is kindly supporting The Neurodivergence Project through the event, and our team will be there throughout the day meeting people, talking about the charity and raising funds to support the development of our future programmes.
Come along, meet the team and find out more about the event.
Why days like this can matter
For our founder, Matt Tozer, being involved in an event like this has a particularly personal significance.
Many years ago, Matt attended a similar opportunity as a young person. At the time, he had no idea what influence that experience would eventually have on his life.
It introduced him to spending time outdoors and on the water, contributing to a love of outdoor activity that would later lead him to become an outdoor instructor and spend much of his life involved in sailing, watersports and helping other people experience those same opportunities.
That journey has also helped shape the thinking behind The Neurodivergence Project today.
It is about much more than the activity itself
For us, sailing and watersports are not simply about learning how to sail a boat, stand on a paddleboard or control a windsurfer.
The activity creates an opportunity for other things to happen.
People may be trying something unfamiliar, learning how equipment works, listening to instructions, making decisions, taking responsibility for themselves and working alongside other people.
Depending on the activity, they might help prepare equipment, launch onto the water, work with an instructor or another participant, learn a new skill, solve problems as they arise or encourage somebody else who is trying something for the first time.
Without necessarily realising it, people can be developing independence, teamwork, communication, problem-solving and confidence.
Sometimes something even simpler happens – people discover that they have something in common with somebody else.
Creating opportunities for neurodivergent people
For some neurodivergent people, traditional social environments can be difficult.
Walking into a room and simply being expected to socialise can create pressure and uncertainty.
Outdoor activity can provide a different environment.
There is already something to do.
There is already a reason to communicate.
There is already a shared experience.
Relationships and conversations can develop naturally while people are doing something together, rather than socialising being the sole purpose of the experience.
That opportunity to participate, contribute and belong is an important part of what The Neurodivergence Project wants to create.
Our work is not simply about teaching people to sail.
We want to use sailing, watersports, outdoor activity, nature and community experiences to help neurodivergent people build confidence, develop greater independence, form friendships and discover what they are capable of.
One opportunity can lead somewhere unexpected
When Matt attended that first opportunity as a young person, he did not know where it would lead.
An experience became an interest.
That interest developed into qualifications, experience and eventually a career in outdoor activity and sailing.
Not everybody who attends Carsington Sailing Club’s Summer Splash will become a sailor, windsurfer, paddler or outdoor instructor – and that is not the aim.
For one person, it might simply be an enjoyable day outdoors.
For somebody else, it might be the first time they try an activity they previously thought was not for them.
Someone might meet new people, discover a new interest or leave feeling a little more confident.
And for another person, it could be the beginning of something much bigger.
Sometimes we do not know the impact of an opportunity until years later.
Come and join us at Carsington
We would love neurodivergent people, families, supporters and members of the local community to come and meet us at:
Carsington Sailing Club
Carsington Water, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 1SU
Saturday 15 August 2026
The Open Day is free to attend.
You can find the full event information, including the activities available and how to reserve a watersports taster session, on our event page.
For The Neurodivergence Project, being involved in the Summer Splash is about more than one day at Carsington.
Someone once gave our founder the opportunity to try something new.
We now want to help create those opportunities for others.