Blyth Tall Ship has been awarded £636,600 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund for its Blyth Heritage Community Response project. The coastal town of Blyth in Northumberland is in the top 10% of most deprived areas in the UK and still suffering from third generation unemployment following the collapse of the coal and ship building industries.
Like all communities it has also been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Now, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, Blyth Tall Ship, which uses maritime heritage and traditional vessels to provide skills training, will be able to launch their latest project in direct response to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.
Hundreds of participants will be able to take part in entry level group activities to develop their skills and improve their own wellbeing and employability.
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The charity’s newest project will focus on those who are vulnerable due to lower levels of mental or physical health, those who are unemployed and those who are directed to the project via social prescribing initiative. The project aims to make a positive difference for people of all ages in Blyth.
This latest project will provide entry level group activities that teach basic heritage skills that can be prescribed by the NHS and other referring organisations. The charity have discovered that there is an immediate demand for these activities and 'belonging' workshops from people in the community than would normally be involved in their heritage programmes, because they are currently not ready for formal NVQ training.
Commenting on the award, Clive Gray, CEO of Blyth Tall Ship, said: "The pandemic lockdowns have been particularly tough on the wellbeing of our community and we are delighted to be working with The National Lottery Heritage Fund to expand our Maritime Heritage programmes to deliver these vital new initiatives."
David Renwick, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “The last couple of years have been tough for numerous heritage organisations. Blyth Tall Ship have demonstrated incredible resilience to ensure they’ve continued serving their community through providing training opportunities and equipping many inhabitants of the coastal town with impressive heritage skills.
"We’re incredibly proud that thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, we can support Blyth Tall Ship in the next phase of their journey and ensure that they continue to be stalwart supporters of improving Blyth for all who live and work there."
Since 2010 Blyth Tall Ship has built a culture of care and transformation for those on the edges of society by employing maritime heritage skills training and working with community volunteers to improve wellbeing and employability.
Blyth Tall Ship have previously delivered several projects with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund that have resulted in the restoration and preservation of unique heritage vessels, including a 100-year-old tall ship; research into the Northumbrian coastal town’s extensive shipbuilding past; and the provision of numerous paid traineeships in 1800s shipwright skills.
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