Members of Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce recently had the opportunity to explore two Sea Cadet vessels moored in Weymouth harbour. The first was TS Royalist, overall winner of the 2017 Tall Ships Races that took place in the Baltic Sea in July and early August.
The tour of Sea Cadet vessels, organised by Anna-Maria Geare of Geare Consultancy, also included the motor boat TS Jack Petchey.
During the tours, representatives of local businesses were told how, while they are aboard, cadets learn a wide range of marine skills, while also experiencing the benefits of team working and the camaraderie of life aboard ship.
Commanding officer Phil Dennis and other members of the local Weymouth Sea Cadet volunteers were on hand to answer questions and encourage members to enrol as volunteers and their children as cadets.
Andrew Knowles, President of Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce, said: “I was impressed with the confidence of the young people who hosted the tour, which helped demonstrate the value of the training programmes organised by the Sea Cadets.”
He also said: “Our visits to local businesses and other organisations, such as the Sea Cadets, are hugely valuable to everyone involved. They help us to broaden our horizons and can spark creativity we can then apply in our working lives. Thank you to the Sea Cadets for hosting such an interesting and informative evening.”
Anna-Maria Geare of Geare Consultancy, who organised the tour, said: “In addition to running my own business, I volunteer with Sea Cadets, and I can see huge benefits from better links between local firms and volunteer organisations. It’s great that we can support one another, as we’re all part of the same community.”
The Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce is committed to supporting the businesses, large and small, which operate in the area. Its membership ranges from sole traders to nationally recognised brands, and also includes charities and other not-for-profit organisations.
Through its work with local firms, the Chamber seeks to support the wider community through promoting, protecting and improving Weymouth and Portland.
The Sea Cadets offers young people across the UK amazing opportunities for personal development, by learning new skills and working in teams. It provides an environment where young people find new confidence and inspiration.
Established in 1856, the Sea Cadets involves 14,000 young people based in 400 units in towns, cities and ports across the UK, supported by 9,000 volunteers.
TS Jack Petchey is a 24-metre-long power training ship with 16 berths, and is a regular visitor to Weymouth harbour. TS Royalist is a 34-metre sailing ship with 34 berths.
