Barratt Homes' Southampton Division is aiding a 15-year-old Hampshire girl's Olympic sailing dream, pledging sponsorship of £4,000.

Sofia Dewsbury, from Hamble, not only sails at Stokes Bay Sailing Club, Gosport with the Royal Yachting Association's (RYA) regional training group, but is also a budding instructor at Hamble River Sailing Club.

Introduced to sailing at just four years old, Sofia developed an enthusiasm for the sport and has been racing competitively for two years.

The teenager is targeting a place in the Team GB Olympic sailing team, and her next significant move entails progressing to a high-performance 29er boat. This skiff, coming with a price tag of around £14,000, is reportedly crucial for Sofia's training.

Added costs such as coaching and travel add a financial strain to her passion. After presenting her ambitions to Barratt Homes, Sofia persuaded the developer to aid her journey.

The Barratt team was impressed by her dedication and decided to support her sailing goals with a £4,000 contribution.

The aid helps the developer support young people in the communities where they build homes. Sofia now continues to dedicate her evenings and weekends at the Gosport club, training for her next competitive race at Royal Torbay Yacht Club. Additional training weekends in Lymington and Weymouth are also in her pipeline.

Sofia said: "This generous support from Barratt is incredible and means I’m well on my way to securing that 29er boat I would really like. Sailing is my passion and hopefully one day I will be able to compete in the Olympics. For now though, I’m happy to continue racing with the RYA and improving my skills."

Sofia’s father added: "Knowing that Sofia has the support from such a reputable company is wonderful and I know that Barratt’s sponsorship has given her a real boost. We are all very grateful."

James Dunne, Barratt Homes managing director, said: "It’s important that we show our support for individuals in the local region, and it’s been such a pleasure to meet a girl who is so aspirational and has such focus and determination. We are delighted to be part of Sofia’s sailing journey and know she’ll be a huge success."