Introducing the Nancy Blackett Young Sailors Fund

The Young Sailors Fund was created in memory of the Trust’s first patron, Bridget Sanders, the youngest of the original “Swallows” family, Arthur Ransome’s friends the Altounyans.

In the operation of the Fund, the Nancy Blackett Trust intends to focus primarily on activities relating to young people, the East Coast and wooden boats primarily through partnership with other organisations.

The Fund supplements the Trust’s main activity and charitable purpose, which is to maintain and sail Arthur Ransome’s Nancy Blackett (Goblin in “We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea” and “Secret Water”).

Applications for Grants

Applications for grants may be made via this Application Form, on condition that they are consistent with our grants policy below:

Grants Policy

  • Partnerships

The Trust wishes to enter into partnership with sail training organisations active on the East Anglian coast that focus on young people and whose values we support. Partner organisations will be invited to nominate potential participants in their programme for a Nancy Blackett Award. This would provide financial support to successful applicants, generally to cover up to half the cost.

  • Other Grants

In addition grants may be made at the discretion of the Young Sailors Fund committee. In making grants the committee will be guided by the following four categories, but may also make grants for other purpose which they judge to be in keeping with the values and objects of the Trust:

1. Individual applicants under 25 years:

Individual applicants under the age of 25 may be given grants to enable them to participate in sailing activities. Preference will be given to:

a) sailing that is related to the central interests of the Trust, the works of Arthur Ransome and the use of classic wooden sailing boats.

b) activities on the East Anglian coast.

2. Schools:

Support activities by schools associated with Nancy Blackett and/or the Arthur Ransome books.

3. Partner organisations: 

Partner organisations are also invited to apply for small grants to assist them with relevant improvements or projects.

4. Sailing Nancy Blackett:

Enable a member of the Trust of any age to sail on Nancy Blackett if the committee is satisfied that the member would be unable to sail without financial assistance.

 

Header image: Nancy Blackett at Woolverstone, June 2012. Credit: I. Jacobson.