Engaging with groups in Belgium and Province Zeeland

26 August 2011

Between the 8th and 15th September, the Pioneer Sailing Trust will be making an innovative trip to its project partners across Belgium and Province Zeeland in the Netherlands and to share its experience of working with community organisations in support of the regeneration of marine based communities.

As a sail training organisation, the Pioneer Sailing Trust has engaged with young people from the Tendring and North East Essex region for 8 years.  This has taken the form of taking them to sea and providing young people with a challenge which stimulates character development, self confidence and communication skills.

In 2010 the trust opened its purpose built boat building training centre with the aim of providing a ‘next step’ for many of these young people and to enable them to develop skills which can be used in a modern marine industry in the region.  With the support of the Transcoast project, the trust is providing training and ensuring that the training centre is suitably equipped and staffed to support the development needs of young people, and ultimately provide marine based employers in the region with a motivated and skilled workforce.

The trip to Province Zeeland will take in visits to partner sites in Blankenberg, Middleburg and Zierikzee and provide a catalyst for describing the role of the Pioneer Sailing Trust in Brightlingsea, Essex and to highlight the lessons learnt for engaging with community groups, engaging with young people and the role that the third sector can have in leading regeneration activity.

The Pioneer Sailing Trust team will be accompanied by two of its young apprentices who have been training at Harker’s Yard, and two volunteers who have helped to increase the efficiency of the trusts activities.