Atlantic Pacific @ Royal Docks London

Last week, Atlantic Pacific has partnered up with LDE UTC in Newham and Royal Docks to bring a taster session to local young people living in Newham. During this week, the students have been introduced to and taught many important aspects of Atlantic Pacific's work. "It was really fun, we learned so many new skills and they aren't skills you can only use on the water, you can use them in everyday life too." said one of the participants afterwards. Over the week, students learned how to operate a Rigid-hulled Inflatable Boat in very windy conditions at Royal Docks with a basic introduction to search and rescue boat skills. Our medical team taught the students our casualty care check card systems and how to respond to someone in a medical emergency. Students also experienced an introduction into psychological first aid and had discussions around some of the pressing issues of our time including climate change, ocean pollution, global drowning alongside disaster response, with a focus on Japan's 2011 Tsunami. All of the students had a great time and learned a lot, one saying that Atlantic Pacific instructors "made the hardest stuff look so much easier than they are and it was so much easier to understand." We hope to have given these young people an opportunity they could not have had previously and encourage them to think about training in one or more of these core skills. Some are even considering joining us now:" I'm definitely joining after I graduate from UTC and I would advise other people to come here and see what they can do." AP plans to open a new training facility in Royal Docks to enable more young people to learn these core skills and offer an opportunity for career paths into emergency response. A UTC student loves the idea: "In an area like this, there is a lack of opportunity. The AP building would allow such an opportunity for a new demographic." Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for more information on the new centre and ways in which you can sign up to get involved.

A BIG thanks to everyone who donated to our Spacehive Campaign and helped us reach just over £130,000! We are delighted to have met our target and are looking forward to opening our new facility in Royal Docks next year. At the moment we are currently awaiting planning permission from the GLA and Newham Council, and so in the meanwhile we have been working with local youth groups, sharing knowledge around drowning prevention, search and rescue and our personal protective equipment (Picture of one of our instructors, Gabriel working with a local youth group) as well as offering some casualty care training. If you would like to hear more on a regular basis, please do follow us on facebook (www.facebook.com/atlanticpacificrescueboats) or sign up to our newsletter via our website: https://www.atlanticpacific.org.uk/contact-us/ We'll keep you posted of the developments and look forward to welcoming you all to the opening of our new home next year. Best wishes and thanks The AP Team