Dame Ellen opens first Scottish base at Largs

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust has sailed into Scotland, opening its first Scottish base at Largs Yacht Haven in North Ayrshire.

The trust gives young people aged between eight and 24 who are in recovery from cancer the chance to rebuild their confidence through sailing.

Having established itself over the past 11 years on the Isle of Wight, the trust is embarking on a mission to introduce more Scottish sailing trips into the program, making services even more accessible to young people here and in the north of England.

It is so exciting for the trust to have officially opened a second base in Largs, allowing us to increase the number of young people we currently work with each year

Dame Ellen, who launched the trust in 2003 after she spent some time with a similar organisation in France, said: “Until now our only operational base has been on the Isle of Wight. It is therefore so exciting for the trust to have officially opened a second base in Largs, allowing us to increase the number of young people we currently work with each year and take them sailing amongst some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.”

With support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the new base in Largs will allow the charity to double in size over the next three years – a huge step that will see them take a further 200 young people sailing in Scotland.

The charity will continue to invest and develop the base in Largs until it is able to run a full summer program from April to September alongside their established program on the Isle of Wight.

Joining Dame Ellen at the opening, managing director of People’s Postcode Lottery, Jo Bucci said: “With a pledge to award at least £1 million over the next 10 years, players of People’s Postcode Lottery are firmly committed to supporting the vital work carried out by the trust to support young people recovering from cancer.”