A HAMPSHIRE sailing organisation has created a new role which aims to strengthen the charity's fundraising activity as it emerges from the pandemic.

The new head or corporate and community giving and the Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST) is Dawn Ingram, who had already acquired extensive experience in the maritime sector.

Dawn has previously worked at the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) and the Sailors Society as well as the Wessex Cancer Trust.

The trust says her record of implementing national and community fundraising events and campaigns will dovetail into her day-to-day management of JST’s corporate partnerships as well as supporting the charity’s branches across the UK.

Patrick Fleming, the JST's chief executive, said her appointment would be a huge asset as the charity looked ahead to a post-Covid world.

He said: “We are delighted to welcome Dawn to the JST team.

"Like many other charities across the country, we have been forced to scale back our fundraising activities during the pandemic. So, we are looking forward to benefitting from Dawn’s wealth of knowledge and experience, particularly in the maritime sector, so we can continue to make a difference to people’s lives.

“We offer people of all abilities the opportunity to climb aboard our tall ship Tenacious for an immersive sailing experience, and we are unable to do this without vital funds.

"Since its founding in 1978 the Trust has welcomed more than 50,000 people on board – almost 3,000 in 2018 alone - providing them with life-changing experiences.”

Dawn added: “I’m hugely excited to be working with the JST. The charity is giving everyone the opportunity to explore their potential through adventures at sea and I am so proud to be a part of that.”

Dawn’s career highlights include creating and delivering the corporate partnership scheme at the RNRMC, and organising the Asia Challenge event at Sailors Society, which resulted in over 150 people achieving the climb to Laban Rata and 135 climbing to the summit of Mount Kinabalu, raising $570,000 along the way.

Dawn has recently graduated from the Cobseo Emerging Leader programme and was selected to speak as a panellist at The Charity Partnerships Conference in February 2021.

In her free time she enjoys walking her dog Betty, and is a keen sailor and runner.