Starting the year with a splash
Read complete newsletter with images here
In his Slipstream screenings
As you probably know by now, In His Slipstream is the cinematic and photographic chronicle of a journey under sail and through grief in memory of Laury, the inspiration behind Blue Spirit. More here including information about the creators behind the project.
Each event was very different and successful in its own unique way.
In London, we had the run of a small cinema venue called Whirled Cinema. Around 50 attendees were there for our first event, where some new connections were made and old ones renewed.
In Hexham, Northumberland we rented the auditorium of the Forum Cinema and around 90 people came to see our film. There was also space to display a few select images from the photo essay, which people were very impressed by.
By contrast, the Newcastle event was held in a small and cosy auditorium of the Tyneside Cinema where there were around 25 of us.
We made new connections, including with Papyrus, Northumberland County Council Children’s Services and the Tynedale Hospice, as well as with individuals affected by the issues raised.
We were also happy to put a face to some of the staff and leaders of organisations we already work with, and thus strengthen those links.
We were pleased that the event generated some welcome donations and glowing feedback.
The film and an abridged version of photo essay are now available on our YouTube channel. Please watch and share with anyone you think will find this helpful.
People said:
“It is a beautiful and helpful film, a beautiful homage - sailing to Brittany to dance for Laury - and a great and worthwhile project.”
"You're doing such a wonderful thing with Blue Spirit - making a massive difference to so many other people's lives as well as helping yourself to come to terms with what happened to Laury."
“Thank you for the amazing film today honouring your Laury. So beautiful to see your family coming together to sail the channel. You touched my heart & to see what you have achieved through your heartbreak & pain is truly inspiring.”
“I just wanted to tell you how powerful I found the film and how inspired I was by your bravery and honesty in how you and your family spoke about grief. Thank you for sharing the event with us.”
“Thank you, to you and your family. For sharing your story, for your courage, for your honesty, for the chance to get to know Laury, and for creating something so beautiful and meaningful. I’m incredibly proud of you.”
“I am proud of you for sharing, for helping other young people through Blue Spirit in memory of your son.”
You can see more reviews & comments here
Our first activity of the season
On 2 April, we started the sailing season with a splash at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club with Projects4Change.
14 young people braved the cool weather to take to the water in dinghies, kayaks and paddleboards. They had a fab time, as you can see from the photos and the some of their comments:
What did you learn?
How to make the boat go faster or slower
How to drive a boat
More confidence with water
If I’m encouraged, I can do it
Confidence standing up
What did you like?
Talking to people
Everything
Doing the tacks
Exciting
Canny organised
Staff were absolutely lush
What would you change?
Nothing
Make it longer
Do it in warmer weather
Two of them – Joanna and Evie – came back the next day to complete their Dinghy Level 1 Royal Yachting Association certificate.
Well done, girls!
Photos courtesy Kelly Coates
The year ahead
Blue Spirit has lots of plans and new partnerships!
We have several residential sails booked this year: weekend voyages with Ocean Youth Trust North and five-day ventures with The Cirdan Trust.
We are offering some of these opportunities to our existing partners, Projects4Change, Patchwork and NEST, and hope to begin a partnership with Northumberland County Council Children’s Services to provide sailing experiences for cared for teenagers and young care leavers. We are also in discussion with other youth groups, including Young Carers, and with Action Foundation’s Young Lives project with a view to facilitating an activity day at the reservoir for a group of asylum-seeking and refugee young people.
Watch this space for news on all this at the end of the season.
A special treat for art lovers
We were proud and touched when, earlier this year, local artist Bernard Quinn offered us some of his work to auction to raise funds for Blue Spirit.
Here is a sneak preview of one of the paintings that we will be auctioning!
Please keep an eye out for a special edition of this newsletter on how you can bid for this and other works of art, and look out for updates on our social media channels.
Fundraising news
You may remember that last Blue Spirit was awarded funding by the National Lottery Community Fund Awards for All scheme. We will have spent this money before July 2024 on a little bit of admin (our website hosting costs) and lots sailing activities for young people:
Activity days for two groups of 12 young people at Derwent Reservoir – one last August and the other last week;
A five-day voyage from Hartlepool with The Cirdan Sailing Trust for 15 young people in August 2023;
Photo courtesy Bridget Stratford
An RYA course for a young man who wanted to take things further last August;
Two weekend voyages on board the James Cook with Ocean Youth Trust North for groups of 12 young people – booked for May and June this year.
Thank you to the National Lottery for making all this possible!
Meanwhile, we have had other fundraising successes, including a grant of £7,500 from the Foyle Foundation and smaller grants from the Hadrian Trust, the Joicey Trust and the James Knott Foundation, for which we are very grateful.
Along with some very generous individual donations and standing orders (FROM YOU!) this funding means that we are able to carry out all activities so far planned for this year. Now we need to work on a plan for next year!
Other ways you can help
We have had some nice little successes this year, but – like most organisations working for social change – we always need to do more.
Of course, we hope some of you will start bidding for the amazing works of art we will soon be putting up for auction, but meanwhile, there are several other ways you can support Blue Spirit.
The obvious one is to make a donation via our website. Top tip – if you make a transfer direct to our account, we won’t have to pay platform fees! Or why not set up a standing order? Having regular donations come in really helps us plan ahead.
Otherwise, if you shop online, you could sign up to #easyfundraising and help Blue Spirit raise free donations in a cashback scheme for good causes. Sign-up is quick and easy and, once done, you get a reminder each time you shop, with over 7,500 websites including big names like Expedia, Just Eat, John Lewis & Partners, Argos, Uswitch and eBay. We'll get a small donation, it won't cost you a penny and it will really make a difference to us. It all adds up!
Thank you for your support that has given so many youngsters a taste of the freedom of the waves!
