We are really hoping you can help!
We are going to be running a community project to restore and conserve a 100 year old Dutch Barge in Lowestoft. We will be asking people in the local community who struggle with Mental Health or loneliness to come down and get involved. The idea is to make friends with likeminded people and be part of a historic project.
We estimate the project will take 3-5 years and once complete she will become a rustic and periodic Tea Room on the broads where people can come aboard and enjoy her historic surroundings and unique character. We also hope to keep social meets and group events for people who struggle, even after the work is complete.
Built in Holland in 1928, this fantastic Dutch Barge has a tremendous amount of history. She spent some of her early life on the Trent Waterways as "Barge Number 9". After a number of years she took the trip to Lowestoft to join the local Fishing Fleet. Later she was then commissioned as a fuel carrier and was said to be used as a refuelling tanker during World War 2. Sadly during this time she sunk due to poor panelling welding under the engine and remained underwater for 6 years when she was rebirthed and converted into a house boat in Norwich for over 30 years.
This project most will know, or guess, will be super costly and while I will be putting a fair amount of my own money in, sadly I could never raise the complete funds required alone. The money we hope to raise would be spent on materials for the project and for some costly works we can't get for free. We have been so lucky to have a lot of interest and people willing to come and help and get involved but some we understand can't due to distance and health but still have shown an interest to contribute. Any funds raised or people who are involved will all go on a framed list which will be pride of place on the ship for all to see.
Thanks for reading and we really hope you can help in some way. Please get in touch if you, or someone you know wants to be involved at any level and do feel free to pop in for a tea if you have donated and are passing.
Thanks again and please wish us all good luck on this massive journey!