CHARITY
Building a Brighter Future.
Since 2017 Alex Thomson has been a Patron of Oarsome Chance, a unique charity which aims to bring about positive change for disadvantaged young people in the Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant areas.
Through a combination of vocational skills training like carpentry, boat building, marine engineering and bike recycling, along with outdoor activities like skiff rowing, sailing and mountain biking, Oarsome Chance seeks to inspire, motivate and upskill young people who are in some way disengaged from mainstream education. Along the way, it is hoped that the charity’s young participants will find a passion in the activities they take part in, and begin to carve out a potential career path for themselves.
In his time as Patron, Thomson has supported the charity partnership, officially opening Oarsome Chance’s centre in Gosport as well as attending prize-giving ceremonies and community talks. Along the way he has met some of the charity’s bright young prospects to offer advice and guidance as one of the world’s most talented offshore sailors.
In 2019, one of those young hopefuls, Oarsome Chance apprentice Joe, was given the unprecedented opportunity of a work placement with ATR, helping prepare HUGO BOSS for the Vendée Globe 2020. In Joe’s words: “Before coming to Oarsome Chance, during my time at school, I struggled quite a bit, with learning and my behaviour. I think my learning suffered because I wasn’t getting the support I needed to achieve anything… If it wasn’t for Oarsome Chance I don’t think I’d be working at all. Let alone still getting an education!
When I started coming here, everyone really helped me to realise my own potential and helped me to believe that I COULD make something of myself, I just needed a bit of support and understanding. I did two seasons of work experience with Alex Thomson Racing and this year I’ll finish my training and I’ll be a qualified offshore yachtmaster and marine engineer, so I guess now the sky’s the limit!”
As a team, meanwhile, Alex Thomson Racing continues to provide materials to support the organisation’s social enterprise initiatives as well as offering access to RIBS and equipment in order to enable the young people to get out on the water.
Find out more about Oarsome Chance HERE
Canvas Works & Alex Thomson Racing
Canvas Works is an innovative social enterprise programme wholly owned by Oarsome Chance. Canvas Works uses donated sails, canvas materials, ropes and much more, crafting them into ‘upcycled’ products such as wallets, bags and bracelets.
This gives Canvas Works, the perfect platform to train young people in industry-standard skills to help achieve a brighter future. In the Canvas Works fully equipped studio, students are involved with the design and construction of the products through the Oarsome Chance in-house training programme.
For several years now ATR has donated the sails from HUGO BOSS to Canvas Works – these donated sails are now at the end of their useful racing life and otherwise would be destined for landfill. These materials are reborn in the hands of the Canvas Works team into unique, handmade products.
All profits from the sales of Canvas Works products go to support Oarsome Chance’s work, so the donation of these unique materials has made a direct impact on the lives of young people.
You can visit the Canvas Works webshop, here to browse the exclusive and unique ATR range HERE
Sustainability
Our Sustainability Mission
Working with our partners, suppliers and stakeholders, Alex Thomson Racing has put in place a Sustainability Action Plan. This action plan includes specific areas of focus, key performance indicators, defined roles and responsibilities, pinpointed engagement opportunities and education plans, and timelines for implementation.
Together, we will work hard to deliver on the following commitments:
- To minimise our operational impact on the environment and actively promote sustainable practices
- To continue the development of sustainable practices in the marine industry and use our unique platform to contribute to the study of ocean health
- To positively contribute to our community on a social and economic level, educating and influencing as many individuals and groups as possible.
In addition, we support and commit to contribute to the United Nations sustainable development goals and the World Sailing Sustainability plan (agenda 2030).
For more information on our Sustainability Action Plan or to discuss how we might be able to work together, contact us via info@alexthomsonracing.com
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