Phil Dennis, Assistant Scout Leader of the 8th Wimbledon Scouts sent us this report of their voyage with us. They evidently had a great time and we look forward to seeing them again.

“I am writing to express our gratitude for the recent sailing trip that we took with you on the barge Reminder between the 1st and 5th of August. I know that each and every one of the scouts that we brought along not only enjoyed themselves immensely but also gained valuable skills such as good team work, good time keeping and really good team building from the time they spent on board. Read the rest of this entry »

We have some limited availability towards the end of the season. If you have a group that would still like the chance to participate this year here is the opportunity

Available dates:

Monday 6th – Wednesday 8th September
Monday 4th – Friday 8th October
Wednesday 20th – Friday 22nd October

There are also a few individual places left on a voyage between Monday 27th – Wednesday 29th September

Please contact us for details

The Sea-Change Sailing Trust is grateful to its funders and appeal patrons for their ongoing support.

They appreciate the importance of our work, enabling us to grow programmes that assist disadvantaged and disabled young people to discover that they can succeed in life.

To have any chance of achieving this, many of our clients require bursary support. Please help them to develop an upbeat approach to their future – for all our benefits.

Will you become a benefactor and help finance our bursary schemes? Find out more

A voyage with The Sea-Change Sailing Trust, by Ray Kay

It’s Thursday and as the young people on board Reminder have been busy this morning writing up their logs of the voyage so far, I thought I ought to follow their example. A lot has happened in four days. So much that I had to consult a couple of the young log writers to help me recall it all.

We started at about midday on Monday at Maldon Quay when the new crew of 14 and enough food to feed about 150 arrived. After some agreeably short briefings we left Maldon Quay, under sail as usual. No mean feat on a 100 foot barge for a very skilled skipper but Richard had a novice mate and a crew of young people who with only one exception, had never sailed before. Read the rest of this entry »

Ten Public Service students from NW Kent College all successfully completed their RYA Competent Crew Certificates last week and made a good start with their RYA Dayskipper Shorebased Certificates, which they will complete at the college in the autumn.

To assist with completion of the Nautical Unit of their BTEC Public Services Award they visited and received talks at RNLI Harwich; HM Coastguard, Walton On The Naze; Chatham Historic Dockyard and were visited by a police launch from Metropolitan Police, Marine Branch. Read the rest of this entry »

“What sets this project apart is that the experience and engagement is totally real. It’s run by hard-handed barge sailors who don’t compromise their integrity as seamen to please some shore based committee.

The result is refreshingly straightforward. Clients develop a genuine relationship with the sailing machine and a respect for the only sort of social values that can embed positive change.”

Tom Cunliffe Sailor, BBC Broadcaster, Writer and Appeal Patron

Please help us to build a faithful replica of the steel Blue Mermaid. She was the last Thames sailing barge built, in 1930.

She will discharge our current work with groups and their staff for which we currently charter a vessel, extending it by carrying cargo and trainees who will gain seatime learning traditional seamanship skills. She will do this with low carbon emissions

Sea-Change needs its own sailing barge designed to meet the needs of the Project. The new vessel will comprise a steel hull and all the traditional rigging and decking of a sea-going Thames barge. She will have twelve berths and basic facilities below. Read the rest of this entry »

Sea-Change is a Royal Yachting Association Training Centre. Now we are delighted to announce that we have been awarded RYA Sailability Foundation Status for our work with disadvantaged and partially disabled young people

You can also keep up to date by subscribing to our Facebook or Twitter feeds

Sea-Change has overhauled its online appearance, this new format will be easier for us to update with news of our recent activities and forthcoming opportunities.

If you represent a group that would benefit from the experience of life aboard a large traditional sailing vessel please contact us.