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From setting up just over five years ago, we’ve dedicated ourselves to creating a Raybel community - bringing people together around our themes of environment, heritage, trade and transport.

We’ve sought to be welcoming, open, generous and fun… but with a fiery, activist side too, aiming to create positive change for people and planet!

We are not for profit and volunteer run. Staff and directors are only paid through time-limited project funding, and no-one is in a salaried position. All proceeds from everything we do will always go back into the projects we run.

Since 2019 we have…

  • Brought TSB Raybel back to Sittingbourne where she was first built in 1920

  • Revived the heritage of barge building to Milton Creek

  • Raised funding to refloat Raybel and managed a programme of extensive shipwright work 

  • Supported the Raybel volunteer team to carry out more than 11,000 hours work to the barge 

  • Run work experience schemes for young people; and training for women in shipwright skills

  • Hosted 10 Open Day bringing together 1,200+ people at Lloyd’s Wharf

  • Provided over 200 barge tours of the restoration work

  • Provided music and reminiscence sessions in local elder care homes

  • Given over 20 talks to more than 500 people

  • Welcomed class groups from 6 local schools and colleges 

  • Organised 8 sail cargo voyages into London and traded £50,000 of produce from producers in Portugal, France and Colombia, creating a unique supply chain: farmer – sailor – trader –  you

  • National Maritime Award Winner 2023 'Best Community Initiative'

  • “Can’t recommend enough as the Raybel is real hidden gem in a forgotten part of Sittingbourne.”

  • “The whole of the wharf site has been greatly improved and enhanced since the arrival of the Raybel and Raybel Team.”

  • “A force for good at Lloyd’s Wharf… It’s a key anchor point and destination point at Lloyd’s Wharf.”

  • “The Raybel team have been amazing, offering something for everyone. So many exciting ideas we wouldn’t have thought of. Often groups pretend to be doing community stuff, but this is for real.”

  • “Wonderful dedicated people. Had all the passion and patience to explain restoration and ongoing plans."

  • “I would like to express my immense thanks for generously contributing your time, resources, and expertise to deliver the exceptional Masterclass you put on for our Saturday Club.”

  • “I have never seen these types of practical courses for women in Swale before. … it was so refreshing to see it on offer.”

  • “I just wanted to say thank you for the brilliant workshops across our federation last week. Both schools were thrilled with the days and the children flourished and created wonderful work.”

  • “The art was fantastic. The artists were amazing with the children and couldn't have been more helpful. The children were amazed that this was in Sittingbourne. None of us (including me) knew it was there so to find this little gem on our doorstep was incredible."

  • “It was inspiring to visit Raybel Charters as a young adult in a time of pessimism about the future,trying to build a working life that is meaningful. I saw that there are people coming together to make something that is mindful and generative, addressing two vital but vulnerable pillars of a healthy world, environment, and community.”

  • "Really fascinating and so lovely to be in a group setting where everyone's learning together and sharing what they know (amazed at the older folks local knowledge!)."

  • “This morning we had a music session. Marina showed us artefacts from Raybel and shared the history and also sang songs which all of the residents enjoyed. It was a wonderful morning.”

  • “So much fun! Learnt a lot about a new place and its history, as well as directing for stage. The people involved were all wonderful too and great to work alongside”

Our next phase plans include

  • Construct a new mizzen mast, install rigging, and get the sails up (cost = £20k)

  • Internal fit out – electrics, plumbing, accommodation (£30k)

  • Begin sail cargo voyages – skipper, mooring fees, event costs (£10k)

  • Continue programme of activities at Lloyd’s Wharf (£5k)

  • Develop national and international sail cargo supply chain (£5k)

  • Extend water quality and ecological regeneration project through new planting and community engagement on Milton Creek, Swale - and further (£2k)

  • Develop partnerships for creative projects liking communities along the Thames estuary (£3k)

Our record

As well as the Raybel restoration, we’ve sought to create a vision of how Lloyd’s Wharf could become a heritage and cultural space for the Sittingbourne community. 

We’ve produced an acclaimed youth theatre project for Lewisham Borough of Culture 2022..

… and started an ambitious project to improve water quality and marine ecology on Milton Creek and beyond. 

All of this has been done with an expanding network of partners and collaborators. 

Our mission is to create projects that connect people and communities to the heritage and nature of the Thames estuary; to promote trade that works with nature and supports social justice, and to search for chances to make local nature improvements to the maritime environment.

We invite you to be join the Raybellians, in supporting the next chapter of our story.

In return, we pledge …

to keep supporters informed through a dedicated newsletter three times a year

Invite you to an annual meeting / celebration event on board Raybel;

to always remain a community based not-for-profit company that seeks foremost.

Every donation over £50 receives a Raybel T-shirt.

Further rewards for levels of donation

  • £100 -  £20 sail cargo voucher

  • £250 – £50 sail cargo voucher

  • £500 – 1 sailing trip on Raybel

  • £1,000 – 1 sail trip on Raybel + £50 sail cargo voucher

  • £2,000 – 2 sail trips on Raybel + £50 sail cargo voucher

  • £4,000 - 3 sail trips on Raybel + £100 sail cargo voucher 

Make a donation

Thank you