Sailing Trust

Report for 2010

1

Established as a not-for-profit company in March 2007 and granted charitable

status in September 2008, the Sea-Change Sailing Trust provides action-centred

learning and seamanship training for young people and vulnerable adults. As a

Royal Yachting Association Teaching Establishment, it offers a variety of

routes to the accreditation of learning. This report covers work delivered in

2010.

Sea-Change became a RYA Sailability Foundation Organisation during the year

in recognition of the work it does with disabled people, mainly those with

learning difficulties. Such recognition is relatively established for RYA-

recognised clubs but unusual for sail-training organisations.

An application to join the Association of Sail Training Organisations has been

submitted now that Sea-Change has achieved the necessary two years of

operation as a charity and awaits consideration.

2

Charter Report.

The Trust undertook fifteen charters totalling 56 days, a substantial increase

from 2009. The Wyvenhoe was in refit for much of the season and the Reminder

was used for the first time. She was built by the Mistley Shipbuilding Company

in 1929, a year before the Blue Mermaid which the Trust intends to replicate

when funds permit; she now works for Topsail Charters and Sea-Change work

fits around her other (mainly weekend) customers.

It was good to sail again with the Pre-Foundation Course from Clacton College,

and this year they persuaded the Work Preparation Course from the Colchester

Campus to join them. Writing afterwards, Course Leader Kate Hart wrote:

“I have run many residential in my time as a tutor, but never in such a small

amount of time have I seen such a huge improvement to students’ self-

confidence and teamwork skills – the very skills that are key to ensuring our

learners become fully functional, employable members of society.”

The Behaviour Support Unit of Mark Hall School in Harlow joined us for two

days in May. One day was hot and calm, with time to row to the beach and

paddle, and the other was windy and exciting. The Unit Manager, Jo Rogers,

wrote:

“The long term benefits…soon became evident. The year 10 pupils who took

part had bonded as a group and were more engaged…The year 9 pupils had

even more success, and all returned to full-time mainstream education where

they have remained.”

Two ten day seamanship

courses were provided

through the National Sea

Training Centre, one for

Public Services students

completing their BTec Unit

in Nautical Studies and one

for Sea Cadets. The saloon

of the barge lent itself well to

being a floating classroom

while practical work on deck

complemented the theory

sessions.

Total concentration from Jessica with passing shipping in Northfleet Hope. Instructor Rob Bassi studies the next reach.

3

Young people who sailed with Sea-Change in 2009 formed themselves into the

Youth Sailing Scheme to run three youth leadership programmes. They applied

to the Youth Opportunities Fund for support and were successful in receiving a

grant at a time of increased financial stringency. The voyages were very

successful and they plan three more in 2011, each bringing new people into the

scheme and offering leadership opportunities to established members.

Carl offers some tips on pilotage while Ben steers for the next buoy.

4

In September a group from the Childrens’ Support Service Centres at

Colchester and Clacton undertook three days away. On arrival the students

immediately got stuck into the hard work of warping the barge from the quay to

an outside berth and mooring others before sailing away. Stephen Woods, group

leader, wrote:

“Staff at both centres noticed an improvement in their relationships with the

pupils that went on the trip after they returned. The students also seemed to

display a better understanding of fairness and empathy in situations where

others wanted to be selfish. The students that went on the trip had developed a

better relationship with each other too. Staff also thought that the students

showed a more positive attitude in their lessons and that their confidence had

improved.”

Teams from Sea-Change won two barge matches, the Passage Match with the

Engineering Council Group and the Thames Match with the Port of London

Authority. The Thames Match was amongst the closest ever with five barges

finishing within seconds. Reminder went on to win the Championship for the

season. Owner Paul Jefferies called it a “real team effort.”

There were others: Wimbledon Scouts, kindly supported by the Kelsey Trust,

rekindled their enjoyment of barging after a break of several years although it

rained! A group of RYA Yachtmaster Instructors spent a day with us as part of

the RYA’s initiative to offer experience on larger vessels. Several groups of

supporters also booked.

5

Low Carbon!

For the second year, Sea-change

has offset the carbon emissions

from the auxiliary engine

through the kind support of

Mark Robinson of The Yacht

Carbon Offset Company.

The New Barge Appeal.

There has been progress with the appeal for funds

to build a new barge for the charity. The Appeal

Patrons met in November to review progress.

Pledges stood at £102,000 including support from

Trinity House which is viewed as a beacon award.

This represents 20% of the target. There is a great

deal more work to do but the appeal is a third of

the way to being able to start building the hull.

Work continues to identify possible customers for

cargo. Through the good offices of Laura Chellis

at the Climate Innovation Centre at the University

of EastAnglia, four MBA students have reviewed

the market and assessed companies with an

interest in low-carbon transport. Associated work

has been done at Essex University to compare the

real costs of road and water.

In 2011 it is planned to undertake a small pilot

cargo voyage for demonstration purposes.

In August, Richard Cole redeemed his successful

bid of £1000 in favour of the charity and raced

aboard the Mariquita at the Westward Cup at

Cowes. Also, Richard offered to provide legal

services pro bono to the New Barge Project.

An original picture by Geoff Hunt, Past

President of the Royal Society of Marine

Artists,for the cover of the appeal document.

6

Sea-Change People

We are delighted Don Ramsay has become Development Officer, helping with

fund-raising, keeping website, Facebook and Twitter up to date and a whole lot

more.

The new website is courtesy of Richard Wynne and is excellent.

Trustees met in December and June and will meet in future at the beginning and

end of the sailing season.

Thanks to Rob Bassi for putting together the Nautical Studies Module, and

Peter Maynard for keeping us on the financial straight and narrow.

Apart from Richard and Hilary, Sea-Change benefitted from crewing by Grant

Everiss, Francis Kent, David Wallder and Ray Kay. Anna Chapman, Natalie

Johnson and Jeffery Billings have managed the Youth Sailing Scheme.

Paddy Bellis of Buzz Training helped us with accreditation in the Youth Sailing

Scheme.

David Wallder

Francis Kent

Grant Everiss Ray Kay Don Ramsay

Hilary and Anna

Rob Bassi

Jeffery Natalie Richard

Paddy Bellis

7

Fundraising

The charity is immensely grateful to the Appeal Patrons who give their time and

support to the appeal. The maritime sector is very well-represented and the

results are starting to show, but we feel we need to find someone who comes

from the fields of youth work, education or residential care. If you know of

anyone please get in touch.

Although charter fees are charged wherever possible and everyone who sails

with us is encouraged to raise whatever they can towards costs, we are very

grateful for the assistance of a large number of individuals and grant-giving

bodies without whom we could not do our work. Thank you.

Future Plans

Funding has been secured, through the generosity of the Whirlwind Trust, to

develop a mentoring service to help young people prepare for their time with the

project, devise action plans and support them afterwards. This is a key element

in the vision that support is based on individual need and does not stop when the

ship ties up.

In 2011 we will continue to offer short residential programmes to groups with

their staff as before. We intend to develop the innovative Youth Leadership

Programme, run by local young people taking responsibility for crewing up and

running their own voyages, by extending it to people from other areas.

There will also be an extended four-week Sea-Change Seamanship Programme

in the summer, the first for some while. Applications are sought for four places

from young people who have an interest in traditional seamanship, are moving

towards independent living and seek adventure afloat.

Contact Details

Address: 11 Butt Lane Maldon Essex CM9 5HD

Telephone: 01621 857840 or 07895 063838

Email: Richard@seachangesailingtrust.org.uk

Website: www.seachangesailingtrust.org.uk

Also on Facebook and Twitter.

Colchester

Institute

Great Glen Shipping

Pilots at the

Blacktail Spit

Mark Hall School BASE

Children’s Support Service

Sea

Cadets

Work-Prep

Colchester Institute

Pilots

Public Services

Sea Cadets

RYA Yachtmaster Instructors Wimbledon Scouts and tea urn

Sea-Change Youth Sailing Scheme