Sea-Change Sailing Trust awarded Active Thames Funding

The Sea-Change Sailing Trust, based in Maldon, Essex, is one of 23 clubs and charities to have been awarded funding by Active Thames. 

Active Thames, the partnership programme led by the Port of London Authority (PLA) to encourage physical activity on the tidal Thames and inland waterways and encourage use of 'blue space', has awarded £150,000 in grants to 23 projects across London, Kent and Essex. This brings the total to £390,000 of Active Thames funding across 50 community clubs in the last three years.

The funding will help the Trust's replica Spritsail Barge Blue Mermaid continue delivering maritime heritage skills training to potential sailing barge skippers and mates -helping to address the skills shortage within the industry. Blue Mermaid is an engineless Thames sailing barge with the ability to carry cargo within the lower Thames Estuary. Built for group sails, she maintains the traditional rigging and decking of a sea-going Thames barge to preserve traditional seamanship skills.

The Active Thames funding will also contribute towards a bursary for a group of young people to enable them to join a residential voyage aboard Blue Mermaid. The Trust's residential voyages help their clients to develop essential life skills - like communication, team-working, resilience, and self-confidence. Do you know a youth organisation who would benefit from a voyage like this? Get in touch to find our more!

Sources: Sea-Change Sailing Trust on Facebook and Active Thames website.

Read more about the Sea-Change Sailing Trust, one of our Shipshape East projects.