Despite the weather, we have smiling faces (pictured) to celebrate Boleh’s 2023 Season, with a record 120 days at sea over the 6 months. We are delighted to report a 20% increase in young people sailed: Service schoolchildren, Army cadets, Dorset schools, Wiltshire young carers, and those troubled by mental health. Adult sails have also risen: wounded, injured and sick from all 3 Services, military families, and accompanying teachers and mentors. Unfortunately weather put a stop to our planned Channel crossing but Boleh has cruised extensively around the Solent and further afield.
All this is only achieved through the dedication of our Volunteers: an amazing technical and support team who respond instantly to any problem threatening Boleh’s charitable programme; Mates and Skippers, consistently lauded by our ‘customers’ for their care and professionalism, who willingly set aside their own priorities to plug any gaps in the operational roster; and our tireless fundraisers whose efforts literally keep us afloat! Add to all this our energetic Ops Director, Craig, and the wise counsel of our Trustees and the recipe for this year’s success is almost complete.
The critical support of our many donors is the essential ingredient missing from that recipe. We are humbled by, and extremely grateful for, the generous grants we receive to fund Boleh and her activities. Most recently we are delighted to report a substantial grant from the Nuffield Trust for the Forces of the Crown towards Boleh’s Winter maintenance and next year’s Naval Personnel Recovery programme. Thank you donors, thank you volunteers – we look forward to 2024 with confidence!
