CatZero Team enjoy a #MADEGREATINGRIMSBY trip to London
August 03, 2021
They were met by the Rt Hon Therese Coffey MP and Great Grimsby MP Lia Nici at St Katherine Dock, London. The group, undertook an 8-day sail from Grimsby to Portsmouth which included the stop-off in London where they had the unique chance to visit with the Fishmonger's Company, Billingsgate Fish Market and the Seafood School, also in Billingsgate. They also had the chance to eat at the fabulous Brigade Bar and Kitchen, eating food prepared by chef Simon Boyle. The restaurant, together with the Beyond Food Foundation, was built with a social purpose, helping vulnerable people and those that have fallen on hard times with training opportunities.
Sean Cahill, a programme manager at CatZero, said: “The young people on the sail are so far having a fantastic time. The enjoyed a great, albeit a bit choppy at times, sail down to London and they have had the chance to look around parts of the city.
“Dr Therese Coffey came to visit the yacht at St Katherine Dock, with Grimsby MP Lia Nici, where they had the chance to talk to the young people, find out more about what we do and how the YFF participants are benefiting from this opportunity.”
The purpose of the sail and London experience was for the teenagers to learn about the wider seafood industry and the jobs and exciting careers available across the sector, which they will then be able to apply to the real world of Grimsby. It also ties in with CatZero’s drive to encourage its work-ready participants into work through opportunities provided by local business and industry, and it comes at a time when the Humber region is drawing the attention of renewables and fish industry investors.
Each CatZero programme is tailored to the individual and includes confidence building - through time spent on the yacht and other activities - short courses such as first aid and food hygiene, CV work and mock interviews. CatZero delivers programmes to young people, families, single parents and adults across the whole Humber region. Some of these individuals may be recovering from mental health issues, be very long term unemployed, service veterans, ex-drug users and ex-offenders, in addition to teenagers struggling with full time education.
Youth Futures Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit organisation established with a £90m endowment from the Reclaim Fund to tackle youth unemployment. The one-year programme delivered by CatZero is designed for marginalised young people under the age of 25 to experience a whole range of motivational activities which will ultimately help to remove any barriers to sustainable education and employment.
For more about CatZero see www.catzero.org