Ipswich trust helps young people break into maritime careers
The Ipswich Maritime Trust's Youth Bursary programme is helping young Suffolk residents pursue maritime careers and adventures by removing the financial barriers that might otherwise hold them back.
Why it matters: This year, seven bursaries were awarded supporting 12 young people across Suffolk, helping fund training, qualifications and hands-on experience on the water.
The details: The awards were presented at the Old Custom House in Ipswich, hosted by the Ipswich Maritime Trust as part of the Ipswich Heritage Harbour Project, made possible with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
In one of the programme's standout opportunities, six students from Ipswich Academy will take part in a five-night voyage aboard Morning Star, having first experienced a day sail on the River Orwell.
The bigger picture: Bursary recipients were selected by a panel that included two young people with lived experience of the programme, one of whom is now working in local boatbuilding. The pair returned to present the awards, reflecting the programme's growing legacy.
The Captain David Ingham Bursary was presented in memory of the late Captain Ingham — a Felixstowe Master Mariner and Haven Ports pilot — by his nephew, to Hugh Barker, a young Ipswich boatbuilder developing his skills in traditional craft.
Also recognised is 18-year-old Jude Hayward-Brackenbury, selected for the 2027–28 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
The bottom line: Backed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Ipswich Maritime Trust's Youth Bursary programme is supporting young people across Suffolk, from first voyages on the Orwell to round-the-world races.
This article cost us ~£14 to produce
It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our partners. Please support us by supporting them.
Below the line