The JST has the pleasure of announcing that entrepreneur and philanthropist Peter Harrison, will be attending the JST stand (A095, Solent Hall) at 3pm on Friday the 19th September where he will present a cheque for £1.5 million, ensuring a bright future for disabled sailors.
The donation, which will dramatically improve the finances of the Trust, will enable it to concentrate on its important work as the only sailing organisation in the world with the capacity to take up to forty able bodied and physically disabled individuals on an adventure sailing experience as a part of a working crew.
The main purpose of the grant is to help the JST be in a position to substantially reduce the loan balance of £2.3 million still outstanding on the build costs of their second ship, Tenacious.
It is hoped that this grant will encourage other potential donors to provide further assistance, so that the whole loan may be cleared in the near future.
The Jubilee Sailing Trust which was set up in 1977 following a grant from the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Appeal Fund owns and operates two magnificent tall ships, Lord Nelson and Tenacious, which are the only tall ships in the world that were specifically designed to enable both able bodied and disabled crew to sail together as equals.
Mr Harrison a sailing enthusiast who is the chairman of the Peter Harrison Foundation has also recently financed the construction of a new planetarium at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
Tom Stewart JST Chairman delighted to hear of the support from the Peter Harrison foundation said, "this donation provides a sea change in the fortunes of the JST and serves as a key milestone in our history, equivalent in impact to the launching of our first ship Lord Nelson and the building of Tenacious.”
Peter Harrison was keen to point out his reasons for pledging this donation, “I want to see the JST free from the debt millstone which through no fault of their own has been round their neck for far too long.” He added, “I hope that, on the back of my pledge, others will feel able to come forward and provide similar support so the Trust will be free of debt and able to concentrate on what it does best.”
Press are invited to attend the event at the Jubilee Sailing Trust stand at A095 in the Solent Hall at 3pm on Friday 19th September. For more information please contact Alistair at the JST Press Office on 02380 426847 or email pressoffice@jst.org.uk