Member Article

Housebuilder hands over £20,000 cheque to Portsmouth-based Tall Ships Youth Trust

A Hampshire housebuilder has shown support for the Portsmouth-based Tall Ships Youth Trust with a sizeable cash donation.

Barratt Homes, which is building new homes across Hampshire, presented the youth development charity with a cheque for £20,000 earlier this month.

Tall Ships Youth Trust (TSYT), which sails out of Gunwharf Quays Marina in Portsmouth, enables young people, aged 12-25, to redefine their horizons on its voyages at sea. It brings a cross-section of youngsters together to work and live in a unique, physically, and mentally challenging environment onboard its iconic 72ft Challenger yachts.

TSYT has worked with Barratt on their apprenticeship programme for the last 4 years and Barratt trainees from all over the country have benefited from TSYT voyages that focus on developing the skills required for employment such as team building, resilience, and leadership.

One such trainee was Jess, a bricklaying apprentice who has been working with Barratt for just over a year. Taking to her role with ease, Jess has just been presented with the housebuilder’s National Apprentice award – where she came out on top of all Barratt apprentices across the country.

Jess said: “Working with Barratt has been a real life-changer for me, and a week’s sailing trip with Tall Ships Youth Trust in June helped me to develop the skills I need in my role – I learnt how to be more patient as well as how to work well in a team of different people. “TSYT is providing a wonderful service to young people in the local area, and I’d like to thank both the charity, as well as Barratt Homes for its ongoing support.”

Alastair Floyd, Chief Executive Officer at TSYT, is extremely grateful for the donation. He said: “We have a fleet of four Challengers and a 55ft ketch, which provide a space for young people to develop a range of skills both practical and social. Our residential voyages help them to overcome barriers in their day-to-day lives and to thrive.

“Barratt Homes’ generous support will mean we can keep our vessels working and looking their best for the next group of budding sailors heading out on the water.” Alastair added: “This cash donation from is incredible, but with them also willing to offer up their free time to help us clean and tidy our fleet, it’s just overwhelming. Thanks go to everyone involved.”

Formed in 1956, Tall Ships Youth Trust is the UK’s oldest and largest youth development sail training charity, and more than 120,000 young people have sailed over two million nautical miles since it first set sail. The charity continues to dedicate itself to enabling young people to fulfil their life potential through transformational adventures at sea.

The leading housebuilder handed over its donation to the youth sailing charity on Friday 12th August, and employees were invited on board one of the TSYT’s yachts, for a trip out on the Solent.

Barratt Homes is bringing new homes across Hampshire. It is committed to supporting local causes which improve the quality of life for those living in the region. For more information visit barratthomes.co.uk. And, to find out more about TSYT visit tallships.org.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Barratt Homes .