Cullen Sea School on the crest of a wave
From sparking an idea to maximize the recreational use of Cullen Harbor to taking center stage in the local community, Cullen Sea School (CSS) has come a long way in its few years of existence.
As the charity appears to emerge from the pandemic and something is approaching a normal summer season, Heart of the Community chats with CSS Chairman Professor Ashley Mowat about the organization’s successes and the challenges ahead. to come.
Q. Describe Cullen Sea School in one sentence.
A. Cullen Sea School is a voluntary registered charity (SCIO42834) aiming to develop community awareness and enjoyment of our beautiful coastline, protect our local environment and make the most of what nature has given us .
Q. How long has the school of the sea existed?
A. The Sea School was officially opened by HRH The Duke of Kent in October 2015. It was in fact the very first project that the Association of the Three Ports – comprising Cullen, Findochty and Portknockie – has put in place. place to try and get the most out of our local marinas. . First, we had to identify a location where we could set up the Sea School and the buildings we are currently in near Cullen Harbor seemed like the best site. These were former boat shops owned by the Moray Council and they were derelict at the time. Thanks to a lot of money, we were able to transform them into a school of the sea with workshop facilities on the ground floor, a lift on the first floor with office, toilets and showers, including disabled, and a kitchen/ meeting room. When we started paddle sports were starting to take off and coastal rowing was growing in popularity and we have been able to capitalize on these opportunities over the past few years.
Q. How big is the CSS team?
A. We have a full time Development Officer (David McCubbin), a part time Coordinator (Melanie Newton), a Sailing Instructor (Angela Hunter), Seasonal Beach Helpers, Retired Volunteer Carpenters and a Membership. staff providing additional voluntary assistance. when called. The school of the sea has a board of directors operating according to OSCR regulations and meets once a month.
Q. What is the main way you benefit people in your community?
A. Our goal is to encourage our communities and visitors of all ages to make full use of CSS facilities and spectacular Cullen Bay by taking the opportunity to: Engage in healthy water sports, paddleboarding, kayaking , dinghy and coastal rowing; Join a highly successful instruction in traditional boat building that includes students from local schools; Connect to recurring educational programs highlighting the attractions of our coast; And to integrate safety training specifically related to our involvement in nautical activities.
All of these activities are explained in detail on our updated Cullen Sea School website, which also allows online booking.
Q. What has been Sea School’s biggest project to date?
A. Shipbuilding has been a great success for Sea School. We were fortunate to have a series of retired local boat builders to start the project. Initially, we had three – Bert Reid, Willie Henderson and Bill Dunbar. Unfortunately, Bill passed away and we are currently building a canoe in his memory. Bill served his time at the old Cullen Shipyard which was swept away by the 1953 hurricane and he donated his tools to the School of the Sea.
We are now building boat number seven and have another one on order. The Lieutenancy of Banffshire asked us to build a skiff in memory of the late Duke of Edinburgh.
Before Covid, we had students from Buckie High who spent time working on building boats; Due to Covid regulations we only have one at the moment but hopefully that will change soon.
Q. What impact has Covid had on Sea School?
A. During the early stages of Covid, we couldn’t fundraise like we normally would, so we had to be quite inventive. Shipbuilding has become a lifeline for us. We recently had our first fundraiser, Covid permitting, in the form of a very successful coffee morning hosted and supported by the Banffshire Lieutenancy at the prestigious Seafield Arms Hotel; and we plan to host the Cullen Harbor Gala again in August. This is a major fundraising event for the School of the Sea.
We are desperate to get schools involved again. Before the pandemic, we had Buckie High in paddle sports and boat building and Keith Grammar School who came in for rowing.
We were very fortunate to receive funding that allowed us to employ Dave McCubbin as a development officer, which will move us forward into the next phase. Basically, we’re dealing with picking up steam after the last two years of Covid.
Q. What does community mean to Cullen Sea School? Tell us a bit more about the community you serve?
A. Community means caring for all, seeking the best opportunity for all to flourish, to be happy and safe and especially for the less fortunate in our society.
The demographics of our society have changed dramatically over the past 60 years with the demise of the previously thriving fishing industry and the resulting failing local economy with fewer job opportunities and an aging population, less shops and hotels and a growing number of vacation homes.
We desperately need to attract and retain families, provide jobs for school leavers and do all we can to promote vital tourism. Unfortunately, these difficulties are not unique to us, but we believe that Cullen Sea School can make a significant contribution to these aspirations by continuing to collaborate with other local groups, regional and national organizations as well as local authorities.
Q. What is the biggest challenge Cullen Sea School faces now and in the future?
A. Our biggest immediate and medium-term challenges are recovering from the ravages of the Covid pandemic and, perhaps even in the longer term, the effects of Brexit. The EU was a major source of funding for charities such as ours, so it’s a classic double whammy.
These, along with the negative impact of climate change on our local economy and the shrinking offshore oil and gas industry in the northeast, are beyond our control.
So far, we are doing well, but like all other charities, the ongoing focus must be adaptability and community collaboration to ensure long-term, mostly self-funded sustainability.
Professor Mowat noted that integrating young people on board was key to the future of the school of the sea.
He added: “There’s no doubt about it, getting young people on board is a huge priority, it’s a cornerstone of our future.
“Involving them in activities like shipbuilding gives them ownership.
“Whatever the future holds, we’ve certainly come a long way since 2015.”