Two Wearside charities get Tall Ships support

The spotlight will shine on two charities which have been chosen as the adopted causes for Tall Ships Sunderland 2018.
Sunderland RNLI in action. Photo: RNLI Paul Nicolson.Sunderland RNLI in action. Photo: RNLI Paul Nicolson.
Sunderland RNLI in action. Photo: RNLI Paul Nicolson.

Sunderland Maritime Heritage and Sunderland RNLI will be in the limelight at this summer’s free festival.

The 19-year-old Sunderland Maritime Heritage aims to preserve the shipbuilding skills and history of the city. It is based in Church Street East and was started in 1999 by a small of team of volunteers.

Chris Carolan from Sunderland Maritime Heritage which has been chosen as one of the official charities for Tall Ships Sunderland 2018.Chris Carolan from Sunderland Maritime Heritage which has been chosen as one of the official charities for Tall Ships Sunderland 2018.
Chris Carolan from Sunderland Maritime Heritage which has been chosen as one of the official charities for Tall Ships Sunderland 2018.
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Now the team is 18-strong and is making a difference by repairing and reconstructing everything from traditional fishing boats to cobles.

Vice chairman, James Sullivan said: “It is very humbling and gratifying to think that we have been given this prestigious recognition for the work we are doing to preserve the maritime and shipbuilding history of Sunderland.

“It will undoubtedly help raise our profile within the city and further afield and we are very grateful indeed.”

Sunderland RNLI is the oldest lifesaving operation in Great Britain. Established in 1800, the service was taken over by the RNLI in 1865 and today its two inshore lifeboats operate from the lifeboat station at Sunderland Marina. The volunteer crew are on call 24/7 to respond to emergencies on the Wearside coast.

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Helen Williams, RNLI Area Lifesaving Manager, said: “We are delighted to have been selected as a charity partner for the Tall Ships Races Sunderland 2018.

“In 2017, Sunderland RNLI launched 69 times and assisted 40 people who found themselves in difficulty as they spent time near the water – typically walkers or fishermen.

“Our partnership with the Tall Ships Races will provide us with a vital platform to share our safety messages with a huge audience.

“This could help us to reduce the number of people getting into difficulty and equip them with the knowledge to ensure that they have a safe and enjoyable visit to the coast.

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“We’re extremely grateful to be involved and be able to highlight the essential work of the RNLI. Hopefully it could even inspire more people to volunteer and help us to save more lives at sea.”

Official charity status will enable both organisations to feature prominently at the festival, which will be spread across four event zones.

Coun John Kelly, Sunderland City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Communities and Culture, said the charities were chosen “because they perfectly reflect the ethos of the event.

“It’s about doing good things for the city and its people, it’s about encouraging sailing in a safe way and it’s a maritime event which helps us to remember and celebrate our rich shipbuilding heritage,” he said.

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As start host port for the Races the city will welcome 56 sailing vessels and their crews along with an estimated 1.5m visitors.

For more information about The Tall Ships Races Sunderland 2018, visit www.tallshipssunderland.com follow on Twitter @TallShipsSund or Facebook at: Tall Ships Races Sunderland.