Witham MP Priti Patel has spent the morning visiting Fellowship Afloat Charitable Trust (FACT) in Tollesbury. The unique activity centre provides opportunities for young people, youth clubs, schools, special needs groups and churches to experience water sports and take part in a range of other activities including high ropes, climbing wall, dredging and archery. Priti said:
“FACT is a fantastic facility here in this part of Essex with a wonderful ethos. I was delighted to visit and see the activities they provide and particularly welcome the support they give to young people with special needs. The range of activities they offer is astonishing and there is no centre like this anywhere else in the country.”
“Tollesbury is famous for its coast and environment and is an ideal location for FACT’s base,Trinity, a converted lightship. FACT has some brilliant and exciting plans for the future and they have my support in their efforts to secure funding.”
Andrew Eastham, Chief Executive of FACT said
"It was great to welcome Priti to FACT today and show her our plans to expand our work with young people, families, schools and groups through our TRINITY3 project.
“TRINITY3 is a 5 phase £1.5m project to develop our unique floating centre, moored on the beautiful Essex saltmarsh. It will enable is to cater for a wider range of groups and take 1,000 more youngsters residentially each year. We are currently approaching Phase 3 which, if funding permits, we will start in November this year.
“We know the impact a visit or stay on board has on the young people that come each year – building confidence and independence, improving self-esteem, giving a better motivation to learn, improving team working and people skills and showing them that they can achieve anything.
“The unique caring community that is Fellowship Afloat makes a wonderful space for our guests and creates memories for life.”
For more information on the project, or to help with funding, please contact Andrew Eastham at FACT 01621 868113.