Charity

Jubilee Sailing Trust closes due to a lack of funds

Published

1 year ago

December 15, 2023

JUBILEE SAILING TRUST, which owns and operates the tall ship SV Tenacious, has announced that it has closed due to a lack of funds

The company, and its charity arm, the Jubilee Sailing Trust has strong links to Pembrokeshire, and ships have sailed from and have been repaired in Milford Haven over many years. The Trust has been facing financial difficulties due to the financial burden of running SV Tenacious, which costs £150,000 a month to run.

People on board a tall ship run by the Jubilee Sailing Trust

The Jubilee Sailing Trust will be reviewed by the Charity Commission to see if it can continue to operate.

The charity’s Deed of Trust could allow it to operate differently in the future.

In a statement on its website, the trust said: “The last 4 years have seen two large-scale funding appeals, refinancing, several restructures, and a reduction in fleet size to one ship – and of course a pandemic. With much internal and external consultation we have tried different funding models, most of which have been heavily reliant on fundraising, or, trying to attract partners willing to pay full price to charter the ship. For the last 15 months we tried a funding strategy that was more reliant on income from our voyage crew paying for 75-80% of the cost of a voyage (or using bursary funding secured for this purpose).

Unfortunately neither our voyage sales nor our fundraising efforts have been successful in meeting the c.£150k/month required to operate Tenacious and keep her legally compliant to deliver our voyages, nor to repay the historic debt (c.£477k) accumulated prior to the September 2022 change in strategy.

Whilst we have been investigating several options to change our situation, including loans and alternative business plans, we recently learned we were also unsuccessful in being able to raise the full amount required to put Tenacious through her regulatory dry docking in time to deliver our planned Atlantic crossing. If we were to attempt to re-start the programme in the Caribbean, sailing as a ‘delivery voyage’ (without voyage crew having paid to sail and meet the voyage costs) to the Caribbean would incur significant new expenditure that we would not be able to meet with the rest of the winter voyage programme. This means there is no viable way to fulfil our Caribbean voyages, and as such all voyages up to April 2024 needed to be cancelled.

Without the funds from the balance payments for those winter voyages (of which almost £100k would be due now), and knowing we would be unable to refund the voyage crew whose voyages have been cancelled, we initiated emergency talks with our Board, financial and legal advisors, and other key persons with long-term connections to the JST history.

Unfortunately as we are now without identified income to meet our imminent expenditure in December (including the wages of our crew and shore-based team) we no longer have the time to pursue other financing options, nor a public fundraising appeal, and our legal advisors view closure as the only option available. Tenacious and all assets owned by JST(T)L will pass into the hands of the Official Receiver, appointed by the court. All staff (ship and shore) are employed by the JST(T)L company and as such will no longer be in post.”

Charity

Thousands of lonely children turning to Childline for help and support

Published

23 hours ago

January 9, 2025

Tom Sinclair

CHILDLINE delivered nearly 5,000 counselling sessions in 2023/24 where loneliness was the main concern, highlighting a growing issue among children and young people in the UK.

Why are children feeling lonely?
Children cited various reasons for loneliness, including moving to a new school or home, parents working long hours, bullying, and feeling excluded after seeing friends having fun on social media.

One 16-year-old boy from Wales shared his struggles with Childline:
“I have depressive episodes that I can’t control. During these episodes, I get really nostalgic, sobbing and wishing I could go back. I get jealous of everyone and feel like all my friends hate me. Christmas is especially hard—I spend the day alone, crying. I just want this weight dragging me down to end.”

Support available from Childline
The NSPCC is urging children to reach out for support when struggling with loneliness. Childline offers confidential help 24/7, both online and via phone, through its 13 bases nationwide.

Additionally, the NSPCC’s Building Connections programme provides an online text befriending service. Designed for young people under 19, it pairs participants with a trained befriender for 11 weeks to help build confidence and manage loneliness.

To make a referral to the Building Connections service, visit https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/services/building-connections.

Tips for children dealing with loneliness

Take part in positive activities: Engage in hobbies like sports, music, or art to boost your mood.
Prioritise self-care: Eating well, staying hydrated, and getting enough sleep can improve mental health.
Socialise: Join clubs or reach out to trusted friends to connect with others.
Ask for help: Speak to a trusted adult, teacher, or contact Childline.
Consider Building Connections: Sign up for the NSPCC’s befriending service to gain tools to overcome loneliness.

Advice for adults supporting lonely children

Communicate openly: Encourage children to share their feelings without fear of judgement.
Understand the root cause: Gently explore their emotions and validate their experiences.
Encourage socialising: Suggest hobbies or activities where they can meet peers.
Build confidence: Celebrate achievements and remind children of positive relationships in their lives.
Create a supportive environment: Be open to ongoing conversations about their feelings.

Louise Israel, Childline Team Manager at NSPCC Cymru, emphasised the importance of these services:
“It’s heart-breaking to see so many young people turning to Childline because they feel lonely and isolated. Loneliness can deeply affect mental health, especially in the darker winter months. Childline is here to ensure no child feels they have to face these emotions alone.”

How to contact Childline
Young people can call Childline on 0800 1111 or use the 121 chat feature on the Childline website to access confidential support.

For adults and children alike, these resources offer hope and help in tackling loneliness together.

Charity

Tributes paid to former Tenby RNLI crew member Stuart Fecci

Published

5 days ago

January 5, 2025

Tom Sinclair

TENBY RNLI is mourning the loss of former Shore Crew member Stuart Fecci, who passed away recently. Stuart served aboard the Henry Comber Brown lifeboat until a tragic accident in 1988 resulted in the loss of his hand.

Despite the injury, Stuart remained a dedicated supporter of Tenby RNLI. The Fecci family has deep roots with the station, including Stuart’s son Samuel, who raised over £300 by completing the RNLI’s Mayday Mile walk in 2021.

Deputy Coxswain Jon Lewis, Stuart’s cousin who carries the Fecci name through his mother, paid tribute: “The last time I spoke to him, he greeted me in a packed Tudor Square as the larger-than-life character he was and shouted, ‘Coxswain Lewis!’ before continuing to congratulate me.”

Stuart will be deeply missed by the entire community. The thoughts of everyone at the station are with his wife Sally and his family during this difficult time.

***Stuart Fecci served as a Tenby town councillor – Image Gareth Davies Photography***

Charity

Boxing Day Duck Race raises £2,000 for Wales Air Ambulance

Published

2 weeks ago

December 27, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE ANNUAL BOXING DAY Duck Race in Lower Fishguard, organised by the Round Table Fishguard & District, proved to be another resounding success this year.

A large crowd gathered by the riverside to watch the vibrant yellow ducks race downstream, with participants and spectators enjoying the festive tradition despite the winter chill.

Thanks to overwhelming community support, the event raised an impressive £2,000 for the Wales Air Ambulance Charity, a vital service providing emergency air cover across the region.

The winners of this year’s race were:

1st: Duck 807 – Rachel
2nd: Duck 94 – Glenys Hughes
3rd: Duck 119 – Howard Hughes

In a lighthearted twist, the title of ‘Last Place Duck’ went to Duck 937 – Julia Moffet, earning laughs from the crowd.

A spokesperson for the Round Table Fishguard & District said: “We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who bought ducks, attended the event, or supported us in any way. It’s always a joy to see the community come together for such a great cause.”

The Boxing Day Duck Race continues to be a cherished tradition, blending fun, community spirit, and charity support into one delightful event.