Issue NC07 Winter 2019
tenactually A DECADE OF DELIVERING LASTING PERSONAL CHANGE
This special 10th anniversary edition is full of smiles, heart-warming stories, an anniversary events round-up and great news about past participants, whose lives we have changed forever ... Our news issues are kindly funded entirely by a private donation from the Hawerby Trust
FOREWORD
We are delighted to present two very special forewords to this season’s newsletter, from our two wonderfully supportive patrons. Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Alan Johnson have been with us from the start and their backing has remained unstinting over the years ...
CatZero: A shining beacon SIR ROBIN KNOX-JOHNSTON
present a different offer, an offer that saw long-term support combined with the right delivery methods and blend of vocational training, team building and learning. This is exactly what has been achieved here.
“CATZERO is a beacon, shining as the best
organisation of its kind in the country and it is here, in the Humber area – of that you should be extremely proud. As I reflect on 10 years of support for this wonderful charity, I recall how it began – with an innovative and pioneering approach to delivering transformational change in an area, which at the time, had true and real challenges, especially in engaging with young people. It was clear that what was happening then, to help these young people fit into society, was not working. It needed a shift in mindset and a brave move to
People may ask, and they certainly did at the time, ‘why is sailing such an integral part of CatZero’s success’? My answer is because it gives people no choice but to settle into what for most is an alien environment and learn that if they can manage that, they can manage other challenges. It sees them mix with others, some highly successful people, and in that moment, in what they are doing, they are equals, they get on, and they are as good as each other. It shows them they can do something with their lives. Once that experience is gained, CatZero does not allow people to get dragged back into their old environments. It remains with them and continues the support, continues the work and continues the passion that is required to effect long-term change. Sailing, in isolation, is quite a small part of it, but it is fundamental to what is required to achieve success. We all need hope, we all need support, we all need friends and we all need to be able to overcome challenge to succeed – this charity gives people the tools to do all of those things. For me it will always be Once CatZero, Always CatZero.”
ALAN JOHNSON core of young people who, for whatever reason, struggled with the self-discipline and teamwork essential in today’s labour market. Many were from chaotic backgrounds and struggled with the very concept of interaction with other people. Jim Dick’s brilliant idea (nurtured during his participation in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race) was to set up an intensive programme which culminated in a fortnight at sea. Mobile phones were to be left behind together with cigarettes etc, whilst participants acquired the skills necessary to be part of an inter-dependent crew. Other versions of this idea had been tried usually around the bootcamp concept. But with CatZero, there would be no option to walk away!
“IT’S difficult now to comprehend the controversy that engulfed CatZero when it was launched. I was embroiled in it, both as a Hull MP and Secretary of State for Health. The founding principles behind the charity were incontrovertible. Hull had a particular problem with youngsters leaving school at the first opportunity only to become NEETs (the term applied to those not in education, employment or training). There was a lot of work going into alleviating this problem, but few initiatives were reaching the hard
In order to make this a reality the charity needed a yacht, hence the controversy. The NHS in Hull had surplus capital that would have to be returned to the Treasury, if no useful project was found locally to spend it on. The Chief Executive of the old Primary Care Trust, Chris Long (now CEO of the Hull Hospitals Trust), was heavily involved in efforts to reduce health inequalities in our locality. He recognised CatZero as a project fully in line with those objectives (health inequalities are more to do with non-health issues such as employment and education). Hull NHS purchased the yacht and CatZero went from concept to reality. I won’t embarrass the distinguished politicians who poured scorn on this initiative. Suffice to say they included a future Prime Minister. From the lurid newspaper headlines the public could have been forgiven for thinking that CZ youngsters would be cruising in the Mediterranean rather than battling across the North Sea. As Health Secretary, I was urged to veto the purchase. I’ve never regretted my rejection of such advice.
‘A brilliant idea’: Alan praised our three founders, who remain with the charity to this day.
CatZero has transformed the life chances of so many young people whose difficult childhood had set them on a disastrous course towards drugdependency and prison. It is recognised nationally for its tremendous success for which Jim, Danny, Dave and the team should be enormously proud.”
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10th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
The trailblazers! It was fantastic to see so many of our past participants visit our open events, in Hull Minster and at the Digital Hub in Freeman Street, Grimsby. Let’s catch up with some familiar faces from over the years ...
DIGITAL HUB, GRIMSBY Nicholas Rich, 23, and Caz White, 24:
The lives of these two, who were colleagues on a 2017 Greenport Hull programme in Grimsby, have transformed. “I feel I am now able to change a lot of things I otherwise wouldn’t have done,” said Nicholas, who admitted to being ‘terrified of heights’ before ending up right at the top of our yacht’s mast during his time with us! He is now looking at a future in engineering. Meanwhile Caz, who we know well as a regular fundraiser for CatZero, is so grateful for all she has achieved. In an open letter about CatZero, she writes: “Since CatZero, my life has been full of adventures. I have made some amazing friends, I faced my fears, I got my own place, I learnt how to ride a bike and swim, joined at Tri club, became a Beaver Scout leader, started driving lessons, I’m two months away from completing my D of E (Caz now has her gold award!) and I reunited with my mum and big brother. “CatZero isn’t just a yacht or a charity, it’s a light at the end of the tunnel, a shelter during the storm and it’s always going to be my home.”
Annette Suddaby, 29:
Annette joined one of our Grimsby programmes in 2014 and the resilience and strength that CatZero helped her to build up has seen her cope positively with serious and longrunning back and spinal problems. Despite needing treatment, she
has managed to hold down restaurant work in the town. “I was always particularly shy, but the course made me feel so much better about myself. It was very good as it came at a time when I was suffering from low self-esteem and confidence,” she said.
Alfie Eckersley, 20: Alfie
was on a programme two years ago and has really fond memories of the long sail, from Hull up to Newcastle. “The course and people at CatZero give you the motivation to go out and find a job, or to follow something you really want to do,” he said.
Lyndon Roberts, 24:
Lyndon has now taken up boxing, and is working fulltime at Vodafone, but there are even more exciting times ahead as he joins the Armed Forces early next year. This is all since our CatZero programme in Grimsby, in 2017 – what a difference two years can make!
“If you speak to me now, I am not the same person. I was not confident at all and could not communicate with others like I do now, CatZero helped me with that. When I was on the course, I also got a lot from seeing my fellow participants grow and change, that is so satisfying also,” said Lyndon.
HULL MINSTER Jordan Dickens, 23:
Jordan came onto one of our programmes, after being in the care system since the age of six. At the time, he had moved to the Hull area and had lost all confidence, finding it difficult to talk to people. “I was nervous and shy, but CatZero has changed me a lot and put me on a higher step. I can now have a laugh with people and talk to others confidently; in fact I am a totally different person to the one I was before,” he said. Jordan is currently fundraising for Cancer Research in memory of his grandmother – taking part in a Mixed Martial Arts event in the city to help raise £5,000.
Jwan Moustafa, 27: Jwan
came over from Syria and was initially homeless, before finding a place in a hostel. It was there that he came across CatZero. “Obviously, the language was a barrier when I first came over here and that only increased my shyness, but all of that changed as I settled and joined CatZero,” he said. “The sail up to Scotland was amazing, although the sickness was a little difficult, however I powered through. Thanks to the confidence I have gained, I am now really settled and starting a course in computer science. My life is getting better and better. I now have my own flat and I am happy here. The people are friendly and I have so much to thank CatZero for.” Businesswoman Janet Green, right, was one of the first Hull businesses to support CatZero, in those very early days the then owner of Ben Green & Associates, now Cleansure,
decided to offer her firm’s support to the charity, offering services free of charge. “We wanted to do anything we could to help. Living around the marina, I would see the yacht and just thought it was such a different and fantastic cause with some inspirational people behind it,” she said.
Sonny Allott, 31:
Sonny was a trailblazer for CatZero, as one of the party of young people from Hull who travelled a leg of the round-the-world Clipper Race, in 2008. It was that journey that inspired Jim, Danny and Dave to launch CatZero – seeing the change the sail made to Sonny and his fellow crewmates. Sonny will never forget it. Now working at P&O where he hopes to progress, the adventure was truly inspirational. Losing both his parents as a teenager, life was difficult and as a young man Sonny admits ‘going through a bad stage’. “My time on Clipper gave me an insight into what life could be like and what is on offer. I loved it. It is amazing and more people should get the opportunity to do something like that,” he said.
Richard Haram, 28, and Jack Conman, 27: They
were our guinea pigs! As teenagers, they were both on one of our first ever programmes and as a result were offered the adventure of their lives – to take part in separate legs of the Clipper race in 2009. It changed their lives and is something they will never forget. Richard, now a senior sales executive in the motor trade, said: “You take that experience with you, through life. It improves your confidence, your skills in every area.” “What a fantastic experience,” they both said.
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10th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
A special visit with Sir Robin
It was a real treat to host two busy days with our patron, the inspirational Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. After flying in from Portugal, where he had been involved in the 2019 Clipper Race, he had a string of events in Grimsby and Hull, attended by leaders from commerce, industry and business, our past participants, volunteers and supporters.
THE two-day anniversary visit began with an evening meal at Healing Manor, in North East Lincolnshire, hosted by our Chair of Trustees Jim Dick OBE and attended by some of our closest and longest supporters and CatZero colleagues. There followed, the next day, a busy schedule of media interviews, tours, speeches and visits on both sides of the river. Radio Humberside’s Grimsby studio was the first stop, for a live interview on Burnsy’s morning show by Sir Robin, Jim and Dave Bertholini. It was then onto the Fishing Heritage Centre where Sir Robin enjoyed an hour-long tour of the Ross Tiger. Joined by the Mayor of North East Lincolnshire, Cllr Terry Walker, his consort Hazel Chase, and North East Lincolnshire Council’s Deputy Chief Executive Joanne Hewson, the tour was conducted by former Skipper Dennis Avery. Sir Robin and Dennis found a lot to talk about – as the former was sailing solo around the world 50 years ago, the latter was at the helm of trawlers leaving Grimsby. In fact, at around the same time Dennis was one of a crew that had to be rescued off the coast of the Orkney Islands in Scotland when their trawler ran into difficulty. It was then lunch before a series of presentations at the Heritage Centre, delivered to guests including MPs Martin Vickers and Melanie Onn, North East Lincolnshire Council’s Chief Executive Rob Walsh, the Chief Executive of the Grimsby Institute Group Gill Alton OBE and colleague Hugh Callaway, Wynne Griffths CBE, and businessman Richard Askam. Describing how CatZero began, Jim Dick told what he witnessed when he sailed with a group of young people aboard a Clipper yacht, which provided this inspiration to start the charity: “I saw this most remarkable transformation in these young people.
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston on the Ross Tiger, Grimsby.
On that yacht, all the slates were clean.” And he added the longevity of the charity could not have been achieved without the support of so many people: “We thank you all,” added Jim. Dave Bertholini, one of the most knowledgeable professionals in the UK on the ‘best practice’ approach to change programme delivery, highlighted the success rate of CatZero of more than 60 per cent in getting participants back into work, training, education or volunteering. Praising the Grimsby Full Families programme, running in conjunction with CPO, he said: “Early intervention is vital, and if we can work with the parents, children and young people, we will have the biggest impact. A key part of delivery is our staff, they are tremendous. Staff, volunteers and participants – we are part of a family from start to finish.” Danny Watson, director of sailing and the third of
Danny with Sir Robin, Dave and Jim.
Danny and our delivery officer Maria enjoy a photo in the sunshine with our guest Sir Robin and veteran Richard Ward. Below is Full Families delivery officer Sarah with participant and mum Paige, with her baby daughter.
the trio who set up CatZero, added: “Life is about mistakes and learning from them. We move people into a growth mind set and, in this way, life becomes an opportunity to learn.”
and some of the city’s most prominent business leaders and friends of the charity.
Moving speeches were then given by current and past participants, all of whom say that without CatZero they would not have been able to stand in front of such an audience. Their words were truly moving. Mum-of-two, Paige, said: “Before CatZero I was ready to give up. I now surround myself with people who help me and can support me. I can trust them, and they care for me. I can now live life and care for my two children, who are the most important people in my life.” It was then over to Hull where media interviews took place on board CatZero before a reception at the wonderful Trinity House, again attended by trustees
Speeches were delivered, including one from former Hull veteran and recent course participant Richard Ward: “It was good to feel that value of life, which puts you on an even keel, CatZero gives you that,” he said. At both events, Sir Robin told the audiences of his unstinting support for CatZero: “When we look at why this programme changes people and the key role that sailing presents, we see people who are taken into an alien environment, they mix with others who are successful in life, working side-byside with heads of companies, and they can see that, in this situation, they are as good as them. The yacht is actually quite a small part of the programme, but it is fundamental and shows people there is a different way and it is an enjoyable way.”
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PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS: SUMMER 2019
The Grimsby celebration event with the Mayor of North East Lincolnshire Cllr Terry Walker.
A new life in 'Civvy Street' Richard Ward is a former serviceman from Hull. He travelled across to Grimsby for the first ever programme for veterans from both sides of the estuary ... A CELEBRATION event for Richard and his programme colleagues was recently held at Cleethorpes’ Kings Baptist Church and attended by the Mayor of North East Lincolnshire Cllr Terry Walker and his consort Hazel Chase. They were joined by Richard, above right, with senior representatives CatZero’s David Andrews. from supporters, including retired senior British Army Officer Major General David Jolliffe CB FRCP, representing The Royal British Legion. Also supporting the programme was the JobCentre Plus, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity and the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. The CatZero team also thanked Alex Baxter and his Armed Forces team at The Knoll offices, also in Cleethorpes.
wrong way and they had to be repaired. “For me, when I had reached that point, Combat Stress (a registered charity offering therapeutic and clinical treatment for veterans) was my first port of call in trying to get back on track. The people there recommended this CatZero programme as a way to rebuild my life for a better future. “When I first met the team, my feeling was that these guys wanted to help me and that is why I went with it. My confidence rocketed as we were learning without being spoken down to. That gave all of us an instant boost – these people were listening to us. It was good to feel that value of life, which puts you on a steady and even keel. I am in a better place now; I can now see light at the end of the tunnel and I have the confidence to go and find that light.” To read about the Veterans’ programme’s Café Day, please go to http://catzero.org/2019/08/16/lunchserved-up-in-cleethorpes-by-our-veterans/
We recognise that a majority of veterans do adjust to civilian life well but Richard’s story is proof that for the 1.5 or so per cent who do struggle, help is most certainly needed. The words spoken by Richard at the event summed up just why these programmes are so important: “I left the army 30 years ago and found myself in a bad place, getting into a lot of trouble. My life slowly went downhill. But I believed that I had made my bed, and I tried to lie in it and did so without any light at the end of the tunnel. Things were going the
Grimsby veterans enjoying a quick ‘library’ stop during a walk in the Lincolnshire Wolds.
Our return to Scunthorpe After a four year break, CatZero made a welcome return to the North Lincolnshire town ...
audience: “I had no confidence or motivation to do anything but I stand here now, talking to you all with so much more strength to believe in myself, to get things moving and back together – I can’t thank CatZero enough. "The qualifications I have gained too, will be so helpful. Thanks for giving me so much more confidence and the courage to apply for university.” Jordan Godwin, 21, also from Scunthorpe, who has now applied for cruise ship work, added: “I would recommend this to anyone; it will change your life around. I have done other programmes before, but nothing like this.”
DURING this, our tenth anniversary year, we have successfully completed the first of six new programmes in North Lincolnshire, which will see people supported to transform their lives and futures forever. Deputy Council Leader Cllr Richard Hannigan, representatives from JobCentre Plus and friends and relatives attended a celebration event for successful participants, held at the Baths Hall. And they heard inspirational stories of how CatZero has helped the first new group of Scunthorpe individuals. Sophie Linford, 21, from Scunthorpe, told the
The new Scunthorpe programmes, supported by the European-funded CLLD (Community Led Local Development), which is administered through North Lincolnshire Council, will see up to 14 unemployed people on each programme – all with different issues and challenges that they need to overcome. The second CLLD programme has now started in North Lincolnshire with the third scheduled for early 2020. Contact pete@ catzero.org for more details.
Scunthorpe programme participants gather for a celebration at the Baths Halls, in the town.
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PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS: SUMMER 2019
The adventure of their lives SUMMER 2019 saw a CatZero first when a group of young people took part in the sailing adventure of their lives.
up to Grimsby – the last day spent ploughing through winds gusting up to force eight on one of the stormiest days of the UK summer.
A team of 11, aged between 15 to 24, experienced this unique maritime journey as a special event, once again to mark our tenth anniversary. They were all part of our Full Families summer programme, with the majority of the youngsters actively engaged in the longterm programme, which is running in North East Lincolnshire in conjunction with CPO.
Oasis Academy Wintringham student, Jonathan Bennett, 15, said: “This has shown me how I can do anything in life. The whole experience has given me so much more confidence. It was fantastic.”
Travelling by minibus to Plymouth where our yacht was moored – having just completed the Rolex Fastnet Race as part of a fund-raising private charter – they boarded and sailed to Brixham. Once there, with thanks to supporters’ relationships between Grimsby and the Devon fishing town, the young people dined at the restaurant run by well-known celebratory chef Mitch Tonks. They then toured Brixham Fish Market – a visit that was planned to highlight the intrinsic links between the town and Grimsby – the latter still having one of the most important markets of its kind in Europe. Ably led by our Director of Sailing Danny Watson, the party then embarked on a five-day sail back
Grimsby teenager Will Wells, 17, added: “This journey has pushed me to my limits, and I now know that I can achieve so much more in life if I put my mind to it. And there are always people who are around to help you.” Michelle Dalby celebrated her 16th birthday on board and was taking part in the sail before going to the Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education to study Health and Social Care: “I have had the best week of my life, it has been brilliant and given me so much more confidence,” she said. The youngsters’ summer programme featured on BBC Look North: you can watch the bulletin here https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=AfSTnG66MYo
attended all of the programme, passed her food hygiene and first aid qualifications and completed the sail, gaining her Competent Crew Certificate. She has never been away from her family for that length of time before and celebrated her 16th birthday on board. She passed her GCSEs and is now attending full time college and has been accepted for the fire brigade cadets.
Of the young people on the programme, here is the progress of a selection of them, proving that our intervention, long-term support and help works. And please remember, to allow this to continue, along with our other programmes, we win grant-funding but it must always be matched funded by private fundraising and donations. What you give to us really matters. Summer sailor 1: He lives with brother and dad but has had no contact with mum for over 10 years. Dad has been unemployed for 15 years and struggles with the boys growing up. Our sailor had been struggling with his behaviour with numerous exclusions. But he attended 100 per cent of the summer programme completing his food hygiene and first aid qualifications. He completed the sail, gaining his Competent Crew Certificate. Now back at school and in the first term, there has been a rapid change in behaviour and no exclusions. He is fully focused getting the best grades and hopefully joining the armed forces. Summer sailor 2: She lives with a family member after her relationship with her mum broke down and she has never had contact with her dad. Her school behaviour was often challenging. She
Summer participant 3 (did not sail but completed everything else): He lives with his mum and has regular contact with his dad and sister. He has always been morbidly obese and was told by professionals that he would not live to see his 18th birthday. He had dropped out of college and did not leave the house often,due to crippling anxiety. For this teenager to complete the programme and meet new people was a big challenge and a huge achievement. He has signed up to complete his Functional Skills English. He regularly attends the gym and is very focused on losing weight. Summer sailor 4: He lives with his mum and has sporadic contact with his dad. He has Autism Spectrum Disorder and PTSD which makes socialising in a group a big challenge. He wasn’t leaving the house, had very low selfconfidence and had not been in education for some time. He completed the qualifications and the sail, gaining his Competent Crew Certificate. He has started a motor mechanics course at Grimsby Institute. He attends the gym regularly and finds socialising easier. Summer sailor 5: He lives with his mum, brother and aunt and had struggled with his behaviour, which has resulted in a police callout. On the programme his confidence improved, and he started taking responsibility for his actions. Again, he completed the programme, the sail and all qualifications and activities – excelling in his Competent Crew training. He has now started a motor vehicle course at North Lindsey College. Summer sailor 6: He lives with his mum and siblings and struggled with being away from the house. Coming on the programme, he gained confidence and stepped out of his comfort zone, again sailing and gaining all the qualifications. He returned to school and within three weeks became a prefect!
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CLIPPER YACHT RACE 2019
Land ahoy! CatZero’s Callum Leach has completed the adventure of a lifetime as a member of the Clipper’s Zhuhai crew, after setting sail from London on September 1 ...
AFTER 35-days at sea Callum was back on dry land when the yacht docked in Punta del Este, Uruguay, and he was delighted to recount some of his adventures, while also thanking all of the CatZero team and the charitable foundation teamArchie, which awarded him a bursary for the trip. teamArchie offers programmes and bursaries for young people to make the most of their lives and themselves, aiming to swing the pendulum of opportunity in favour of those who really want to be the best they can be and prove they have the desire to make it happen, but need support. Wanting to provide a bursary for a young person to undertake a leg of The Clipper, the round-theworld race for amateur sailors, teamArchie selected Callum. Of course, it was Callum’s work with our Director of Sailing Danny Watson that has aided his progression as a sailor, after he completed one of our programmes, something which Callum is evergrateful for.
my watch, was on a standby from 0400 to 0800. Our duties would be to give a hand on deck for evolutions (a sailing task), if required. As there were none planned, we did our morning routine of baking some fresh bread for breakfast at 0800. “The bread tasted incredible and it was nice to eat something so fresh! After breakfast, our watch made it up on deck for 0750, ready for handover, and received the info we needed ... full mainsail and the ‘Code 2’, which is an asymmetrical spinnaker middle in size, and no reported vessels in the area. The compass course was around 190 degrees with an average speed of 12 Kts with the wind on the beam. “I was the first person to take the helm on my watch and it felt a little heavy. We were doing 20-minute rotations on the spinnaker sheet winch and also on the coffee grinder. As I was concentrating on keeping the spinnaker full of wind and also trying to stay on course, I heard a big splash on the starboard side quarter. At first I didn’t realise what the splash was, but moments later it happened again, and it was four dolphins swimming with us. What a beautiful way to start the day.” “On another occasion, I was back on watch at 0400 and feeling OK, just a little tired. As I took over on the helm in the first 10 minutes, I felt something hit me in my arm and moments later I realised we had the Atlantic sea monsters with us, also known as flying fish! There were so many on the deck on our four-hour watch, we collected them in a bucket full of salt water until the morning when the skipper prepped them for breakfast. Nick fried them in some oil, with diced onions, fresh garlic with some fresh lemon and Tabasco sauce. Very tasty!” Well done Callum, and we look forward to hearing about all of your adventures.
“I actually feel lost for words when I think about what has happened to me. I owe my life to CatZero, and I can’t thank teamArchie enough for choosing me for this incredible bursary. I was determined to do both charities proud, to repay their amazing support for me,” said Callum, who is pictured above with our Patron Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, who was in Uruguay to welcome the boats. So, what of his adventures; let’s read about some of his highlights ... “I recall September 21st and the Green Watch,
Callum, front second from right, with his Clipper team.
CASE STUDY
Networking success Chris was thrilled to be earning his own cash after taking a 10-week CatZero course.
Today, Chris Toyon is a Customer Service Team Leader for Hull's IT and broadband service provider KCOM and he's more than happy to shout about CatZero and the role the charity played in his continued success ... LIKE the organisation which helped him find his big break, it is almost a decade to the day since East Riding resident Chris Toyon took part in a 10-week CatZero programme, having been unemployed for several months.
In addition to the more practical aspects of the course, Chris described how the CatZero staff discussed healthy eating, stopping smoking and exercise. He felt that he was being shown how to live a better life, not just how to get a job.
Chris, 30, left school with GCSEs and A-levels and had already worked in an office prior to finding himself with no job. He told us: "I'm afraid I was guilty of being naive and I had left my job due to a dislike of the office politics, thinking I would easily get another one. I can't say what the market is like now but it wasn't necessarily qualifications organisations were looking for at the time; they wanted work experience and I didn't really have any.
Chris continued: "The final piece of the course was a work placement. I was sent to KCOM, which was called KC (Kingston Communications) at the time. After finishing the placement, I applied for a job that was advertised with the company and succeeded in gaining a temporary contract. That contract was extended and eventually became permanent. Since then, I have been in the support team, residential customer services, I have moved around the business side of the company and I am now a Customer Service Team Leader."
"I was really bored and fed up when I saw a poster for CatZero and thought it seemed like a good thing. It was going to make me get up in the morning!"
KCOM is a long-standing supporter of CatZero and Chris was pleased to return to the charity for a day sail, a few weeks ago.
After sending a text to CatZero, a 19-year-old Chris was invited to an open day where he signed up for the programme.
"It was nice thinking how far I had come since those days. I had my 20th birthday on that course and now I am a dad of two and I have worked for the same company for 10 years!
"We did a lot of vocational things, such as brick laying, food hygiene and first aid," Chris explained. "We also did a lot of things around sailing, including a sea survival element."
"CatZero gave me opportunity and purpose. I was very fortunate to be a part of it and welcome the chance to sing its praises during this special anniversary year."
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CELEBRATION EVENTS FUNDRAISING
Tea’s up! Bringing the community together Most of our CatZero friends will know, the Chicks set off from Hull in May to travel around the UK on a tenner a day – with all the money they save being donated to our programme delivery ... THE intrepid Chick family have found their way to North Devon. With their faithful 1968 Morris Traveller Mo as their home and vehicle, they set off from Hull back in May. Yes, they’ve had a few mechanical issues on route, but with a lot of support and help from new friends they have met along the way, they have made their way up the north east coast, around Scotland, down into Cumbria and Wales, before hitting the south west coastline. On their travels, they have come up with a great little idea to promote friendship, adventure, supporting each other and having fun – something we all believe in here at CatZero. We will hand you over to family member Gracie to explain ... Hi there, friends, This is the Chicks from Round The UK On A Tenner A Day. We’ve been on this journey for over five months now and have travelled over five thousand miles. We set off just as a family trying to make a difference, but from the very beginning right up to where we are now, we have met ordinary but incredible people like yourselves who are truly changing lives in your communities. We’ve learnt from all of you that bringing people together is the answer to so many of the struggles we all face.
You’ve inspired us to share that message with as many people as we can and find our own way to bring people together. We’ve created CommuniTea, events we’ll be organising all over the country on the remainder of our journey and beyond to bring people of all ages and backgrounds together in an environment where everyone is welcome. We’re going to cook a meal, talk about what you have shown us and encourage everyone that we can all be part of making a difference. We’d love to be able to show them a video message on why you believe in the concept of CommuniTea and bringing people together. Many of you run groups or projects, so if you’d like to do a group message that would be fantastic. Please tell us who you are and promote what you do so that you can inspire others too. If you could start with “I/We believe in CommuniTea because ...” and then tell us why in as many or as few words as you like, that would be absolutely great. You can upload the video to a group we’ve created called ‘I Believe In CommuniTea’ and watch other people’s videos about what CommuniTea means to them. If you request to join, I’ll add you as quick as I can and then you can get your video message on there. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/ groups/399769450942303/ Thank you so much. All of you remain a huge inspiration to us and your input to CommuniTea would be priceless. We look forward to hearing from you. Keep up all the amazing work that you do! Love from The Chick family, Round The UK On A Tenner A Day. PS. If you’d like to find out more about CommuniTea, check out this link - https://www.facebook.com/ communiteaevents/
Thanks so much all, Gracie xx
Boost team confidence!
A GREAT fundraising way to boost your teams’ confidence, skills and bonding ... When our 72ft Challenge yacht is not being used for our programmes, we run very successful taster, day and team-building sails for businesses with the revenues generated going back into our funds – remember, every pound we get in grant-support needs match-funding. This opportunity offers a unique experience for any team, with our Director of Sailing Danny Watson providing bespoke sessions to ensure employees and managers get the very best out of their time on board. Tailored to individual needs, we offer management team days, teamwork and leadership challenges,
reward and incentive packages and corporate hospitality. There are also opportunities for schools and colleges. A spokesperson for one company to which we delivered had this comment, following one of our corporate sails on the Humber estuary: “We are a communications company and as a team we have never communicated better than we did today.” For more details and to discuss your individual needs, please email suzanne@catzero.org The pictures show some of our team-building days during the summer of 2019, which were delivered to Arco, The KCOM Group and Andrew Marr International.
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FUNDRAISING
Challenges and festive gifts!
The 2019 CatZero Cycle Challenge and, below right, Gareth Russell takes part in the Ben Nevis Braveheart Triathlon.
WE HAVE so many individuals to thank for taking part in some fantastic challenges – all of which raise vital funds for our programmes. Our 2019 CatZero Cycle Challenge weekend saw 14 intrepid adventurers raise more than £12,000. To mark our tenth anniversary, Danny planned a different route this year – making it a little longer and a ‘true’ east to west, starting in Hornsea and finishing in Southport. These two towns mark the very furthest east and west respectively! And then there was Gareth Russell, a Business Development Manager at ABP Humber…who, in his spare time, loves to take his CatZero fundraising efforts to new heights! And he picked our tenth anniversary year to do just that – taking part in The Ben Nevis Braveheart Triathlon. And what a success, raising thousands of pounds so far, and with your help there is still time to raise some more. If you wish to donate, you can still do so at www. virginmoneygiving.com/garethrussell
For more details on the challenge tackled by Gareth, go to www. bravehearttri.com or see our blog http://catzero. org/2019/10/01/garethclimbs-every-mountainfor-catzero The perfect Christmas presents, and you will know you are helping to truly change peoples’ lives. Are you wondering what to get a friend, relative or loved one for Christmas – something a little different, but you’re just not sure what? We offer gift vouchers for Humber estuary day sails, taster sails and our wonderful adventures on board our yacht, which include Round The Island, our Dutch Dash and the big one – the 2021 Fastnet Race for which we are already taking bookings. See http://catzero.org/sailing/ for more or email suzanne@catzero.org
A very Merry Christmas to all from CatZero! 2B Humber Street, Hull HU1 1TG Info: (01482) 333303
The Business and Digital Hub Freeman Street Market Grimsby DN32 7DS
CatZero’s O-Zone magazine is written and produced by Southbank PR, Grimsby. Copyright 2019