Charity’s delight as new minivan delivers a boost
Mayor unveils essential vehicle
THE Mayor of Gosport has unveiled a youth charity’s new electric van set to be used to help transport vulnerable youngsters.
Gosport and Havant based youth charity, Oarsome Chance, was looking to purchase a minivan to transport youngsters as part of their vocational training programme.
The charity’s offering includes boat building, carpentry, canvas skills and bike maintenance as well as maritime activities such as sea rowing.
It looks to support young people aged from nine to 19 who have become disengaged from mainstream education and are at risk of exclusion.
After unveiling the new van to the excited youngsters, the Mayor for Gosport, Councillor Zoe Huggins, said: ‘I was more than happy to accept Oarsome Chance’s invitation to launch their new electric vehicle.
‘Oarsome Chance are doing some amazing work for our local young people and this has been a wonderful way to launch our partnership.
‘I’m looking forward to working with Oarsome Chance over the coming months.’
After receiving funding from The Clothworkers’ Foundation and The Bernard Sunley Foundation the charity was able to purchase the eco-friendly Nissan e-NV200 vehicle.
John Gillard, principal for Oarsome Chance, said: ‘We are passionate about offering the best support we can to the young people we work with and a part of this is ensuring we can safely transport students and equipment between our centres.
‘We are also passionate about doing what we can to reduce our carbon footprint and we are really putting our money where our mouth is by committing to electric powered transport – it sets a great example to our students.’
The children and youngsters are referred to Oarsome Chance by schools and local authorities who feel the students may benefit from more vocational learning.
Oarsome Chance won charitable status in 2016 after being set up as a privatelyfunded charity in 2015.
Its 2018/19 annual report said it partnered with 20 organisations, from mainstream primary and secondary schools to pupil referral units in the area.
Each week the charity engages about 100 young people in an activity.
Many have gone on to secure qualifications and awards in the area.