Children enjoying a Norfolk Boat experience (Photo by Graham Cross)

The Norfolk Boat

Providing bursaries for offshore sail training to young people and those with disabilities, in Norfolk and the surrounding area

Being a member of a ship’s crew on a sail training voyage offers a powerful and effective environment for personal development by experiencing the challenge and adventure of life at sea.

Working closely with schools, colleges and youth groups, The Norfolk Boat enables people from all backgrounds to enjoy a life changing experience.

Navigating

Bursaries for berth fees

Providing bursaries to young people and those with disabilities for offshore sail training in Norfolk and the surrounding area

Contributing upwards of £25,000 each year, the Charity covers part of the berth fees and encourages the participants to fundraise as much as possible for themselves whilst offering help in identifying other fundraising opportunities.

Whilst everyone is expected and encouraged to raise as much money as possible themselves the Charity has never turned anyone away and since 1982 it has helped around 150 people every year.

Find out how you can help us ⇒

Hitting another wave

Who we help

Young people aged 12 to 24 years old and adults with disabilities who live in Norfolk and the surrounding area can apply for funding.

"I enjoyed being alongside the crew and feeling wanted at last. … even though I found it tough at times, I gritted my teeth and fought through to the end."
"The voyage has helped to increase their confidence and self-esteem and has raised their aspirations."
Working with ropes

Watch one of our latest voyages

In May 2022 30 students from Alderman Peel High School in Wells-next-the-sea, Norfolk spent 4 nights and 5 days on board the Excelsior, a restored 1921 fishing smack of the Lowestoft fishing fleet. One of the Year 8 students, Maddie, had this to say about her trip : “I would encourage anyone who got given the opportunity to say YES and do it, it’s life changing and I would love to do it all again”.

Recent News

The Excelsior Ship

Tall Ships Tales

Posted
Report Excelsior 2024Break – Voyage from Helsinki (Finland) to Talinn (Estonia)5-13 July 2024 For this trip we had two care leavers and two young people from our residential homes, accompanied by their carers, as well as an extra staff member from the Aspiration team, to support the young people and act as a point of…
Read More Tall Ships Tales
Resilience

Resilience

Posted
A word much bandied about but what really does it consist of and how important is it, particularly to our young people stepping up to the plate right now? We are extremely lucky here at The Norfolk Boat to have some incredibly committed directors (trustees), from a variety of backgrounds joined by a common belief…
Read More Resilience
Blue Mermaid Cruise September 2024

The Lord Mayor of London makes an appearance

Posted
Blue Mermaid Cruise September 2024 Report by Dave Cooke Participants & Funding Woolverstone Project sailors Volunteers from Woolverstone Project Specialist carer Blue Mermaid Crew Funding We were funded by a generous grant from Norfolk Boat with additional funding from Alpkit, The Clay Family, Active Thames, The Worshipful Company of Builders, and ASTO. The balance was…
Read More The Lord Mayor of London makes an appearance

Discover the sailing adventure ⇒