A stronger future is built together

Running Morvargh Sailing Project has always been a labour of love. It is something that Vicky and I hold at the very centre of our lives; a commitment that goes far beyond a job title or a voluntary role. Every spare hour is given to the Project: mornings spent scheduling and designing social media, evenings spent writing bids and planning voyages, weekends spent maintaining Helen Mary R or handling administration, and countless moments when we set aside our own needs because we deeply believe in what Sail Training gives young people.

Most people only see the voyages, the moments of happy smiling children stepping off Helen Mary R at the end of an extraordinary adventure. Those moments are why we do this. They remind us that the sacrifices are meaningful. Yet the truth is that behind those moments lies a strain rarely spoken of, and it is that honesty that now gives us the opportunity to build something stronger together.

Over recent months, we have felt the weight of this more keenly. We have watched other organisations secure sizeable grants, sometimes from the very funding bodies we have applied to and been unsuccessful. We celebrate their success because Sail Training thrives when the sector is strong, and Sail Training is so much bigger than any one organisation. But we would be lying if we said it did not sting, knowing of our own needs to raise a large sum to preserve Helen Mary R and protect the future of our voyages. At times, it feels like an impossible uphill battle.

This is not written to criticise any funder or to diminish the efforts of our supporters. Many of you already give far more than we could ever ask for. Instead, it is written to shine a light on the reality behind our work. Morvargh doesn’t have a paid fundraising team, large refit budgets, or full-time administrative staff. It is powered by two people, a tiny dedicated group of volunteers, and an unwavering belief that young people deserve opportunities to thrive at sea.

This is not about comparison. It is about the emotional and mental weight of sustaining an organisation that we love at a time when resources are stretched, support is uncertain, and the need for what we do has never been greater.

There are days when the setbacks come one after another; when exhaustion builds, and we quietly wonder how long this pace can be sustained. We are two people trying to hold up something much bigger than ourselves, and that reality takes a toll.

Morvargh is something we have built with our whole being; every hope, every spare hour, every ounce of energy poured into creating opportunities for young people. It is woven into our identity; it shapes our choices, our routines, and the rhythm of our days. We carry Morvargh with us everywhere; in our thoughts when we wake, in the work we do late at night.

What is seldom seen is the cumulative weight of the countless small blows that come with each knockback, delay, rejection, or unexpected hurdle. Each one chips away at us a little because so much of our heart is tied to the Project’s future. The pride we feel is immense, yet it coexists with the quiet exhaustion of continually absorbing setbacks, even as we find the strength to move forward for the young people who depend on us.

Over the years, we have achieved an extraordinary amount for an organisation of our size. Anyone who has read our latest annual report will see the scale of what we deliver with so few resources. Something we are so, so proud of. Voyages that stretch and empower young people, programmes that reach into our communities, and a vessel that has travelled tens of thousands of miles under our care.

We do all of this while juggling jobs because Morvargh cannot afford to pay us. It is a constant balancing act: working to support ourselves and the Project. That reality holds us back, not through a lack of ambition or vision, but through a simple lack of hours and capacity. It is deeply frustrating to know what more we could achieve for young people if we had the resources, time, and support that many assume already exist behind the scenes.

Morvargh is built on belief: that young people flourish when challenged and that the sea offers lessons that last a lifetime. That belief carries us far, but it cannot be the only thing that does so.

This post really is a call for help. We have reached a point where the limiting factor is time. We are simply out of capacity. Every hour of the day is accounted for; if we could stretch the day or week, we would. Yet the reality is that two people cannot continue to absorb every role in an organisation that has grown far beyond what our personal time can sustain.

Morvargh is growing, and that growth is something we are proud of, but it marks a natural turning point; a moment where shared responsibility becomes essential rather than optional. With the right people alongside us, the Project can move from being sustained by sheer determination to being supported by a wider community of skills, energy, and shared responsibility.

Right now, two volunteer roles could make a transformative difference.

We are looking for a Volunteer Fundraiser; someone who can help take ownership of fundraising strands, from grant applications to donor relationships, and help build the financial resilience needed to protect Helen Mary R and our voyages. A key part of this work would be helping us grow a sustainable bursary fund, ensuring that cost is not a barrier to participation. A significant proportion of the young people who sail with us come from Index of Multiple Deprivation deciles 1 to 5, representing the most deprived 50% of areas in England. Even at a heavily subsidised rate of around £75 per day, the cost of a voyage remains well beyond what many families can realistically afford. Bursary support is therefore not an added extra; it is fundamental to our ability to deliver inclusive Sail Training that reaches those who benefit from it most.

We are also looking for a Voyage Development and Outreach Volunteer; someone who can help us reach schools, youth groups, and organisations in Cornwall that would benefit from Sail Training, opening doors and creating opportunities for young people to come sailing.

These roles are flexible and shaped by the individual. What matters most is not the number of hours given but the ability to work independently, take initiative, and be relied upon. In return, volunteers will see the real-world impact of their contribution in young people who step ashore more confident, capable, and self-assured than when they arrived.

Morvargh does not need rescuing. It needs sharing. With others beside us, we can protect what has been built, reduce the strain of carrying everything ourselves, and ensure that Sail Training continues to be a powerful force for good for years to come.

We need people willing to step forward and share the load in a real, practical way. We need those who can help write applications, organise events, build networks, design campaigns, or take on the tasks that currently rest solely on our shoulders.

When people step forward, it makes an enormous difference; yet what helps us most are those who feel able to take ideas forward independently and lead pieces of work themselves.

We simply do not have the capacity to manage additional ideas unless there is someone ready to carry them. This is not a lack of gratitude; it is a reality of time. What we need now are partners who can take initiative, share responsibility, and help drive the Project forward with us. Without broader involvement like this, we risk not only our well-being but also the Project's momentum and future.

For such a small organisation, Morvargh bats far above its weight; the impact is real, lasting, and visible in every trainee who steps ashore a little taller than they arrived. Yet sustaining that impact requires more than belief; it requires a community that stands beside us in the work.

If you believe in this organisation, in the potential of young people, and in the power of a voyage to reshape a life, we are asking you to join us. Your involvement is not just practical support; it is a statement that this work matters. It is a commitment to keeping the door open for the next young person who needs a challenge, a fresh start, or a moment of genuine self-discovery.

We will continue giving everything we have. We will continue fighting for the young people who step aboard Helen Mary R; however, no lasting mission can be carried out by two people alone.

With a wider circle of passionate supporters beside us, we can share the load, protect what has been built, and ensure that Sail Training remains a life-changing force for the young people of Cornwall for years to come.

If you can help, whether through time, skills, connections, or simply a willingness to explore what support might look like, we would love to hear from you. Your support could be the turning point that allows Morvargh not only to endure but to flourish.

Together, we can turn this moment into a stronger, more sustainable future.