A Permanent Space for TS Thunderer
From "Beckton & Royal Docks Community Assemblies 2022"
Go to the project
A home for TS Thunderer (Sea Cadets)
We have secured land at the Royal Docks and sourced some old shipping containers for re-purpose so our project is to build and establish a new HQ in the docks.
TS Thunderer was situated in Davis Street from 1942 however due to asbestos we had to relocate. SS Robins Trust provided us with a temporary home whilst they were trying to raise funds to refurbish SS Robin the ship, the world’s oldest steam coaster, which would have been our HQ. Unfortunately, the trust was unable to raise the funds and so we were asked again to leave our temporary HQ – a shop front on Royal Docks (our home for 7 years).
To build a new HQ in the docks offering training sessions and access to national and local regatta events. Our new location will be ideal to support the now established ‘On the Water’ national scheme for hard-to-reach communities. Our HQ will act as the feeder to this scheme, enabling us to increase our uptake from 20 to potentially 50. This in turn will have a positive impact for the local community; a safe and creative place for young people to grow, develop and learn new skills. Furthermore, it will offer opportunities for us to engage more with local civic events and be more visible and part of the wider community. We will be a beacon of hope a bridge of new activity between the docks, city airport and Newham council civic centre.
TS Thunderer is a youth development organisation working with young people aged 10-17, situated in the borough of Newham. We use experiential waterborne adventure as our main method of enabling young people to learn life skills and have the opportunity to learn in how to be independent in a safe environment. We are a volunteer lead organisation offering opportunities to adults aged 18 and over.
Boating offers the opportunity to learn soft skills that are vital in later life, for example communication, strategy, appreciation of risk and collaboration. We enable our young people to learn independently and in groups, through these activities be they domestic or strategic gives them the skills to be creative, resilient and leaders. We teach first aid, DofE, BTEC level 1&2, RYA accredited courses and the opportunity to attend leadership boards and present as though at interview.
Our young people have the chance to go on national and international voyages where they have to live and work on a ship for a week- we feel this opportunity enables them to learn about themselves and a taste of working life. Affiliated to the national Sea Cadets our young people travel the length and breadth of the country meeting and training with other cadets and volunteers from all over. We are a huge surrogate family offering friendship and pastoral care not only for the cadets but our volunteers too.
We offer two full uniforms to our cadets free of charge, our membership fees a minimal no more than £5 a month. Even though water sports are considered an elite sport, we offer a non-heritage pathway to sailing for all from all walks of life. Together with the main charity we focus on attracting young people from hard-to-reach communities and where better than Newham with such a diverse population.
The product life of the shipping containers will be about 50 years, we feel in 50 years that we will have supported 2500 young people as a minimum. We will have offered alternative vocational opportunities and training to 1500 adult. Finally offering over 110,000 boating hours amounting to a minimum of 5000 boating qualifications. Help us change the opportunities available to hard-to-reach communities- support us in breaking the cycle of deprivation by offering opportunity and progression.
