Spirit of Fairbridge

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Fairbridge

Between 2007 and 2012 Bibby Line Group will donate a total of £1million to Fairbridge. This sponsorship will allow long term funding of Spirit and the programmes that are operated on board. It also brings some exclusive opportunities for Bibby Line Group employees to get involved.

Fairbridge is a national charity that supports young people between the ages of 13-25 who have been excluded from mainstream society through drug, alcohol, homelessness and personal problems. They operate from sixteen centres around the UK delivering a combination of personal development programmes and challenging events to help to integrate young people back into society.

Spirit of Fairbridge

Spirit of Fairbridge is a replica of a Mersey pilot schooner run by Fairbridge as part of their development programme taking up to 12 young people at a time from all over the UK to sea. Sponsorship from the Bibby Line Group will fund Spirit’s core activity, as well as provide some exclusive opportunities for Bibby Line Group employees to get involved.

Spirit provides a unique development opportunity for young people. Thrown together for 24 hours a day with people they have never met, participants discover the advantages of working together as a team as they raise 2,500 square feet of sails, plot the course and steer the boat.

'When we were on Spirit we made team goals and goals for ourselves. I've still got that piece of paper up on my wall in my bedroom. Everyone did an action plan before going on Spirit, I had to think about what I wanted to do and how I wanted to improve something about myself. I wanted to see if I could control my temper a bit better. I got bullied a lot, I’d been suspended from school a few times, I was feeling isolated, it used to be really easy to get to me. Now, if I feel I’m about to lose it I can say to people, just give me five minutes by myself.'

(Spirit of Fairbridge participant)

Opportunities to get onboard Spirit

There are a number of opportunities for employees of the group to get onboard:

Sailing Weekends
We are running 3 sail weekend for employees. During these weekends you will get a feel of why this vessel supports the charity with its development courses, working together with your team to run the ship for 3 days. All sails will be sailing out of Oban in Scotland on the following dates:

16th – 18th April

21st – 23rd May

1st – 3rd October

To register complete the sail weekend form and return to the Community Team (click here to download the registration form). The business will cover all travel expenses to and from the ship. Your only commitment is raising £100 for the charity before you get onboard.

Volunteering with Fairbridge
There are a number of ways Bibby employees & teams can help support us:

  • Take advantage of any spare crew places onboard Spirit and put yourself forward as a volunteer. You’ll need the aptitude and commitment to work with young people from challenging circumstances, however this can be an intensely rewarding experience and a great opportunity to do something different whilst helping others.
  • Have you got a resource (meeting rooms, equipment etc) that might be of use to Fairbridge?
  • Take part in one of our fundraising events (marathons in Edinburgh, Paris or New York; the London triathlon or the 9 Lakes in 9 hours challenge)

If there is any help that you can offer or to check availability on any of the above opportunities, please contact Harriet Brooks at Fairbridge on 020 7902 1241 or email harriet.brooks@fairbridge.org.uk

Or contact the Bibby Community Team on 0151 794 1052 or e-mail community@bibbylinegroup.co.uk

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