A new charity to help involve young people in sailing has been launched in spectacular style at Liverpool’s Isla Gladstone Conservatory.
The Lisa Pover Trust aims to support 14-25 year olds across the Northwest in achieving life changing maritime experiences.
Lisa decided to start the trust after winning a life changing competition which saw her leave her job as a taxi driver and sail around the world in the Clipper 07/08 yacht race.
Lisa, with the help and support of Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Service, has been working over recent months to set up the trust and donation fund. The event at the Isla Gladstone represented the culmination of this hard work and the official launch of the trust to the city.
Guests during the evening enjoyed a sit down dinner, entertainment and speeches from media personality and entrepreneur Esther McVey, Lisa Pover and Trust Patron, Sir Robert Knox-Johnston the first person to sail single handed and non-stop around the world.
There was also a charity auction hosted by Roger Phillips of BBC Radio Merseyside, where patrons and supporters raised more than £22,000 towards the charity’s projects.
Lisa Pover said: “The launch event was a great success, I never expected us to raise so much money. This can be put towards helping enhance the lives and experiences of the young and deprived across Liverpool.”
Trust Patron, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: “What a fantastic launch, I’m proud to be supporting a foundation that will do so much to improve the lives of the community through maritime activities.”
The trust is now looking at a growth strategy for the next 12 months with regard to improving their services and increasing their team members.
This strategy includes purchasing a four man boat to use for training projects, training all team members as RYA accredited dinghy instructors and looking to affiliate the trust with the Liverpool Boat Show.
The trust is also looking to develop their primary education programme, which will involve taking dinghies into primary schools for question and answer sessions, as well as offering a programme of sailing lessons for children that wish to learn the sport along with their families.
For further information please visit www.lisapovertrust.org
Post a comment