The North of England P&I Association (North P&I Club), a leading marine insurance association, has donated £3,000 to fund life changing sailing expeditions for young people in Northern England.
Staff at the Newcastle based insurers chose to donate the funds to Ocean Youth Trust North, the North of England’s leading sail training and youth development charity, for its work providing personal development opportunities, for people aged 12-25, through adventure under sail.
Tyneside based OYT North was one of several charities nominated by North P&I Club’s staff to receive donations from the Club’s North 150 fund – a charitable fund set up to mark the firm’s 150th anniversary in 2010.
Michael Asherson, associate director, North P&I Club, said: “The North East has been our home for over 150 years and we believe strongly in being able to give something back to the community in which we live and do business.
Our staff chose OYT North as a beneficiary because we share a strong maritime connection. They all value the work the trust does providing our young people with the opportunity to travel, work as part of a team, learn valuable life skills, discipline and a powerful sense of responsibility while at sea.”
It is not the first time the firm has raised funds to help OYT North.
Last year, North P&I Club entered a crew in a sponsored rowing race from Newcastle’s Quayside to the mouth of the Tyne at South Shields – organised by the South Shields Marine School - with OYT North as beneficiary.
Plans are also underway for its staff to help Grace Metcalfe, skipper of James Cook - OYT North’s 70-foot yacht - to clean-up at the end of the boat’s annual refit in March before the arrival of the first young crew of the season.
Steve Lennon, general manager OYT North, said: “We are incredibly grateful to North P&I Club for this donation. Our work relies on generous donations to enable us to bring about life changing experiences and personal development opportunities for young people who need them.
This donation will enable us to help more young people from a wide range of schools, colleges, youth clubs, charities, local authorities and groups working with the disabled or disadvantaged, by introducing them to adventure under sail on-board James Cook.”
OYT North celebrated the 25th anniversary of the launch of its yacht James Cook in 2012 and its skipper Grace Metcalfe capped off a great year by winning the International Young Sail Trainer of the Year Award from Sail Training International.
OYT North estimates that it has welcomed more than 10,000 young people on board sail training expeditions since 1987.
North P&I Club has supported a range of youth and marine organizations through its North 150 fund including The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), The Sailor’s Society, Sea Scouts, Sea Cadets and Newcastle Falcon’s youth outreach program.