Barry's stand up paddling club is offering to sponsor four people to learn the sport, and join the club and its social events for free.

Kerry Baker has been stand up paddling (or SUP-ping) since 2010, and set up the Island SUP club in 2018.

Not only has the Barry community grown, but SUP is the fastest growing sport in the world.

"I started in 2010, and for quite a few years I was the oddball doing it, but it's become really mainstream," said Kerry.

"In the last five or six years it's been growing at quite some pace and then in 2020 it's just blown up, it's something that people can do quite safely.

"Most people have some form of water near them, whether that's a lake, the sea or a river. The manufacturers struggled to keep up with the demand last year.

"Luckily, it's a sport where you're on your own piece of equipment and you're outside, when restrictions are lifted, we're one of the first sports able to go again.

"Anyone from young children to adults can get involved, so I think that's why it's become so popular.

"Surfing is so hard and you get washed about so much, compared to SUP-ping where you can find success quite quickly and connect with being outside.

"I did quite a bit of racing at a national and international level. There wasn't a club in the area, so we applied for a grant from Sport Wales in 2018 and we did our first season in 2019.

"We worked through 2020 as best we could! That's where the community really grew through the Zoom things and then getting in the water," she said.

Island SUP has run coffee mornings, film nights and live fitness sessions focused on balance and other key SUP-ping skills while restrictions are in place.

Kerry says they are also setting up an environmental group within the club, working with Surfers Against Sewage, Planet Patrol and Two-Minute Beach Clean.

When Covid measures ease, the sport is one of the first to be allowed to re-start, and the club is offering sponsorship for two adults and two youths.

"As soon as we can get back on the water, we'll be out there," said Kerry.

"We're offering the whole package right from that beginner lesson and getting involved with the club across the season. So, membership, insurance and equipment.

"It's about giving someone who might not have the opportunity to join that chance. All they need to do is show up to our weekly club nights, and then any weekend socials we run.

"We hope they come along regularly to the club nights, but obviously social events suit some people some days."

Applications are open until the end of January, but there is potential for the scheme to expand.

"We've initially launched sponsorship for these four, but eventually we'll open it up and ask if people want to sponsor someone to do it," said Kerry.

"We all know how good it makes us feel, and some people unfortunately haven't got the opportunity to do it, so we'd like to help.

"Lots of the other big commercial centres can't offer that same community aspect because of how they work.

"Some of our members who supported us so far say they are interested in sponsoring a child to take part, especially because they recognise that they are privileged to be able to take part themselves," she said.

The club is accepting nominations for someone who has had a difficult 2020 and would enjoy taking part. Submissions of up to 100 words should be sent to [email protected].