Total Raised £113,778.00

Donate Now Help Raise Funds

Cost of building this unique boat is upwards of £180,000,

With your fantastic help we are well on our way to completing the project.  Any help raising funds to continue the project is appreciated.

Thank you to everyone who has helped us.

Grants

from

  • Essex Locality fund
  • Short Breaks team
  • Community Initiative fund

£37,000.00

Community Fund Raising

We have managed to raise funds from Family and Friends and running various events throughout the community, including selling a 2023 calendar which was a great success.

£37,309.00

Our dream/ Regardless of ability

We want to offer a service that means whoever wants to join us for our adventures on the River Blackwater can, without any hinderance, due to a fully accessible boat designed to remove all blocks to accessing the boat and using the facilities once on board. 

This includes Physical and Mental ability plus anyone who struggles to get aboard, we welcome everyone aboard the Freedom Boat Adventures.

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FAQS / find out more

A CIC is a special type of limited company which exists to benefit the community rather than private shareholders and any assets or profits belong to the CIC and not the Team involved in running the operation.

Yes!

We are happy to take donations and sponsorship to enable us to continue the great work - Look for the donate button on this website or contact us for a chat.

All monies raised at this time are purely for the build of the boat and its fit out with specialist equipment for comfort and accessibility

Dawson Marine will build the boat at cost and the Swift Cat design was chosen due to its amazing stability and fuel efficiency which is tried and tested.

The projects main focus will be those with disabilities of any kind be they physical or Mental and any age but we will also have a small part of the project that will focus on general tourism to allow for income generation to cover the running cost of the boat and subsidy.

An introduction to the wonderful scenery and wildlife off the shores Mersea Island and also the vast Historical heritage along the River water Blackwater.  Plus, all who come on board will have the opportunity to drive the boat

West Mersea Jetty ( The hammerhead )

Normal operating days will be Tuesday - Sunday times will be posted on the booking page due to tide.

We have a dedicated space for a minibus near the launching jetty and there are also car parks within 5 minutes of our location.

12 people can be aboard this can be up to 6 Wheelchairs at one time

Yes!

All the skippers hold the relevant qualifications to take the boat out to sea and all other staff have full induction and training to support the skipper.

  • Wheelchair locking points
  • Life jackets
  • Flares
  • Life raft

We will offer bolt on packages to the trips but here is also many restaurants and take away nearby.

Yes!

There will be snacks and drinks available to purchase

Yes!

The boat can be hired for the day, contact the team to get more details.

Our Patrons / amazing people

Saskia Clark

Olympic Sailing Gold Medalist

Saskia Clark

I was lucky enough to grow up on an island, so I've spent most of my life surrounded by water and I can't imagine my life without it.  Being on, in or by the sea has fundamentally shaped me as a person; the sea is where I head for exhilaration and adventure and conversely, for thought, reflection and calm. 

There is increasing research that suggests proximity to blue spaces positively impacts both physical and mental wellbeing.  Anecdotally I know this to be true!

The Freedom Boat Adventures project is an amazing community project that will increase water access, focussing on a comfortable and inclusive experience for all.  I can't wait to see it up and running.

Hannah Stodel

Para Olympian and World champion Sailer

Hannah Stodel

I'm thrilled to have been asked to be a patron for the Freedom Boat Adventures project, as its so close to home for me.  Growing up on East coast, and having access to the water day in and day out has made me the person that I am today, and having access to opportunities and support laically has helped me shape my career. 

Without local people stepping up and thinking outside the box, I wouldn't have got my chance to go to the Paralympic Games, and I owe that to the local people of both Brightlingsea and Mersea Island who stepped up to the challenge and adapted boats to get me sailing.

Sadly this isn't the case for everyone, and quite often disabled sailors or powerboaters are left with the undignified option of being hauled in and out, or given kit that is quite frankly insulting! I look forward to a boat that is designed with the end user in mind, and not a "it will do" boat. 

This project will hopefully open doors for so many other disabled people to get out on the water and change their lives as mine has been!

Some nice Words / What they Saying About Us

Our Team / meet the team

Paul Button

Paul Button

Operations Director

A professional Youth worker and Outdoor activity Manager who has a passion for the great outdoors and the opportunity to share that experience with others.

Having worked in the industry for over 30 years I have seen the changes in those that take part and how this has positively affected their lives.

This is more than evident when working with hundreds of people with all kinds of disabilities every year at the Mersea Island Festival

Having lived on Mersea Island for a similar amount of years I wanted to put the two together with a project that involved the sea and opening up opportunities to others who may not normally have the chance to experience such adventures

Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson

Director & Boat Builder

I was born on Mersea Island and spent most of my childhood messing about on boats and exploring the creeks and mudflats around the Island then going home covered in mud, wellies full of water!

Most of my earlier working life was in my father's building company and later in partnership with him but the sea was never too far away and I always yearned to be on the water.  I could always see it calling me when I was on a rooftop, twinkling in the distance!

When I moved to East Mersea with room for a workshop that was it, I was going to build my own boat which I did, "Miss Molly".  From there my work has slowly evolved from building to boat building with more passion for the latter. 

Being on the water is a completely different experience to anything else, every day afloat always an adventure.  I am always at my happiest there and it would be a privilege to be able to share this with others, especially those who may have thought that they would never be able to experience it.

Sophie Weaver

Sophie Weaver

Non Exec Director + Access Activist

As a born and bred Mersea Islander I have always lived on the island.  My worklife has taken me across the UK and Europe but I always love coming back to the island at the end of the day.

Much of my working life has been spent working for the cultural sector, trying to achieve greater access for all, regardless of ability or background. Alongside this I am a writer and performer.  As a wheelchair user I have always championed equality and I am passionate about instigating change where it is needed. 

I can appreciate what it means to live with the sea on your doorstep.  I love our island life but as a wheelchair user I have always found it difficult to get out on the water.  On the occasions that I have managed to get a willing team of people together to get me onto a boat, it has been a fantastic experience to be out on the water. 

I am very pleased to be a Director of Freedom Boat Adventures.  It is very exciting to be part of this ground-breaking project, which will see the changes needed in boat accessibility.  It will open up a new world of water adventures to people who currently find it difficult or impossible.

Sebastian Shillaker

Sebastian Shillaker

Non-Executive Director

Sebastian has been building and repairing boats since he was a skinny 17 year old, working in his first boat yard on the Hythe in Colchester.  Since then, he has worked both abroad and all over the UK, building a variety of boats including racing yachts, luxury yachts and wind farm vessels.  He has a wealth of experience and a proven record in running builds from start to finish, on time and on budget. 

I joined Freedom Boat Adventures because Chris asked if I would be interested in lending my knowledge and experience in boat building to this project.  It's a meaningful project that will help the community and give people an opportunity to get out on the water that may not have been possible before. 

I have always enjoyed being active outdoors, whether climbing or downhill biking in the mountains or surfing in the ocean.  I am currently introducing my daughters to the world of outdoor adventures because it's important to me and I feel that these adventures should be accessible and available to everyone regardless of ability.

Donate Now / Help Raise Funds

If you need to know anything else about the Freedom Boat Adventures project or would like to get involved then please get in touch.

Please tell your friends and family and share share share this page and any donations are greatly appreciated.

You can also pay direct to our account;


Starling Bank
Freedom Boat Adventures Community Interest Company
Account Number: 85600065
Sort Code: 608371
IBAN: GB77SRLG60837185600065
SWIFT/BIC: SRLGGB2L


Thank you for all your support.

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Freedom Boat Adventures

1 Newcaptains Road, West Mersea, Essex CO58QP
07940 519846

Private Company Limited by Guarantee C.I.C.

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