WAVED off by the Mayor of the Borough of North East Lincolnshire as they departed Grimsby Dock on July 26, our intrepid Grimsby Youth Futures Foundation (YFF) sailors were back in the company of Mister Mayor as they visited the town’s Fishing Heritage Centre this week.
The group have been back on dry land for the last couple of weeks having experienced an exciting and informative 8-day sail down to the south coast. The eight participants, aged 14-18, visited London where they were hosted by the Fishmonger’s Company who arranged trips to Billingsgate Fish Market, the Seafood School, also in Billingsgate, and the socially conscious Brigade Bar and Kitchen, which helps vulnerable people and those that have fallen on hard times with training opportunities. They were also visited by the Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions, the Rt. Honourable Therese Coffey, and Great Grimsby MP Lia Nici, who took time to chat to the group at the CatZero yacht, which was moored in St Katherine Dock.
During the trip, the YFF participants learnt of the jobs and exciting careers available across the sector so that they could apply their new-found knowledge to the real world of Grimsby on their return. And where better to bring their trip full circle than Grimsby’s Fishing Heritage Centre?
Recently, the group met with North East Lincolnshire’s Mayor, Councillor David Hasthorpe, and CatZero YFF programme manager Pete Tighe for a tour around the museum and nearby former fishing trawler, the famous MFV Ross Tiger. The award-winning centre was the perfect spot to show the teenagers the history of their town’s fishing industry as they walked through mock-ups of 1950s-style streets, an Arctic fishing journey and the Freeman Arms pub!
The tour gave everyone the chance to learn about one of the world’s most perilous jobs, tying it in with what they have already learned by visiting with the Fishmonger’s Company in the capital. It was also a great opportunity for Cllr Hasthorpe, who chose CatZero as one of the three charities to support during his tenure, to hear about the London sail and visit and for the group to feed back on what they had learned overall.
Pete said: “They were all very interested in listening to the guides on the Ross Tiger and their true life tales of different times. An inspirational visit capturing imaginations and offering thoughts for the future.”
We will be seeing more of the Grimsby YFF participants and Cllr Hasthorpe as the year progresses, and indeed the Fishmonger’s Company, so keep an eye on the website and social media for our news.
For more on Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre visit www.fishingheritage.com