The Viking Boat Co.

30/06/2026

Please see posts over last few days, we are in a hole, but working our way out. Please help how best you can. If you are unable to donate, we understand but please at least share with your friends

30/06/2026

27/06/2026

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/viking-boat-company--heritage-skills-forge

We need your cash and your voice. We work with broken people to transform their lives. We also build Viking boats. But we need your help.

26/06/2026

The Viking Boat Co. Journal – June 2026

Sometimes you have to wear your heart on your sleeve...
Regular readers will have noticed my prolonged absence from Facebook. I can assure you we are still here—still fighting, still determined—but simply trying to kick harder and shout louder.

Anyone involved in the charity sector will tell you that funding is the greatest challenge. Last July we appointed an experienced bid writer to help secure our future. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, many applications due from January onwards were either never submitted or were unsuccessful. We only recently became aware of this, leaving us with a significant funding gap and very little time to recover.

Now, we must regroup, rethink and move forward.
We are launching our Fund Me campaign—something originally planned for January but delayed. It isn't the position we hoped to be in, but it is where we are today, and we intend to give it everything we've got.

I continue to explore every possible avenue through collaborations, partnerships and the generous support of skilled people who believe in what we do. We have welcomed MPs, councillors, community leaders, veterans' organisations, schools and many local institutions to our site. Every one of them has recognised the value of our work and the positive impact it has on veterans, young people and our wider community.

Behind the scenes we are rapidly reshaping our plans to ensure we have the strongest possible future.
Despite the financial challenges, there is no sense of defeat here. Every day our workshop is filled with craftsmanship, laughter, learning and determination. We continue to build skills, restore confidence, preserve our heritage and support those who need us most.

As the saying goes:
"Adversity doesn't build character; it reveals it."
The character of our volunteers has never been stronger.

The reality, however, is that without additional financial support, the Viking Boat Company faces the very real possibility of having to close its doors.

That is not something any of us want to contemplate. Too many lives have been changed here. Too much heritage has been preserved. Too much good has been achieved to let it disappear.
If you have ever enjoyed visiting us, supported our work, shared one of our posts, attended an event, or simply believe that organisations like ours deserve to survive, this is the time to help.

Whether it's donating, becoming a regular supporter, volunteering your time, introducing us to potential sponsors, or simply sharing our appeal with others, every contribution makes a difference.
Together, we can ensure that the next chapter of the Viking Boat Company is one of survival, growth and hope—not one of closure.

Thank you for standing with us. We cannot do this alone.
Donate: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/viking-boat-company--heritage-skills-forge
Website: www.thevikingboat.co
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 07793 606244

Please share this post—it costs nothing and could make all the difference.

02/06/2026

Father’s Day Woodworking Experience
Last minute treat

Looking for a unique Fathers Day gift?
Treat Dad to a unique experience at the Viking Boat Company.

Join us for a relaxed and rewarding Woodworking Experience Day where participants can try traditional woodworking and woodturning techniques, learn new skills, and create something special from raw timber.
Whether he’s a complete beginner or already enjoys DIY and craftsmanship, this experience offers:

• Hands-on woodturning experience
• Expert guidance in a friendly workshop
• A calm, mindful and creative environment
• The chance to make a handmade wooden item to take home
Perfect for fathers, grandfathers, sons, or anyone who enjoys making, learning and creating.

📩 Message us directly for dates, prices and booking information.
Give a gift with memories, craftsmanship and purpose this Father’s Day.

19/03/2026

Hi Viking, followers and friends, update coming soon.

11/03/2026

Woodshop Journal 11 March 2026

Hi fellow Vikings, supporters and friends,

It’s been a while since our last update, but that certainly doesn’t mean we’ve been snoozing!

We recently had our monthly visit from Phil, who was immediately put to work alongside Les and Bob on George’s Lass. Phil is due back again at the end of the month, and although the plan was to have the boat finished and returned to Sally by then, things in boat restoration rarely run entirely to schedule. As usual, we’ve had to step backwards a little in order to move forward, so we may have a small overrun.

That said, making Les the project leader on this job was a stroke of genius. He has truly launched himself into the task with great enthusiasm and has taken on much of the hard graft.

Sadly, we can’t share the story pictures just yet. We know Sally follows our page, so we’re saving everything for the final reveal when she comes to collect her boat.

We’ve also had a raft of important visitors recently, bringing with them several promising initiatives that we’re now working to develop.

In addition, we’re trying to confirm a date in April for the Fundraising Launch of Stormbird. If all goes to plan, it should be quite an occasion — dignitaries, a BBQ, possibly some re-enactors, and maybe even a few fireworks. Once the date is confirmed, we’ll publish the details so you can get it in your diaries. Entry will be £10 to help cover the costs.

Elsewhere in the workshop, after building a new shave horse, Colin and Angie are now hard at work on a few of our ever-popular Viking sea chests. Jim has been crafting authentic attire for the display team, while Ian is continuing with his woodturning course and designing some cabinetry to house his sharpening system and tools.

We also processed some of the pine flooring we received from the church renovation. It turns out it’s actually Larch. Once cleaned up, it’s beautiful, furniture-grade timber. We’ll likely use some of it for cabinetry, and perhaps the remainder for another boat… we’ll see!

That’s all for now, folks.

Happy days.

14/02/2026

Woodshop Journal – 14th February 2026

This week we managed to get the site tidied up and shipshape, in preparation for the arrival of a rather special gift from St Cuthbert’s Church in Darlington, currently undergoing renovation and the installation of a new underfloor heating system.

Reclaimers had already purchased the valuable oak pews and taken what they wanted, but the pine flooring was simply too much for them to lift and remove. A quick word with Kerry, followed by a meeting with the site manager, confirmed it would otherwise be scrapped.

An opportunity like that doesn’t come along twice… and we certainly weren’t going to let it go to waste!

With some help on transport and a bit of proper hard graft, we recovered approximately 125 de-nailed, knot-free boards, averaging around 3.5 metres in length. A generous gift, with a value of around £3,000.

Of course, they’ll need dressing and preparing but once worked into saleable items they could more than triple in value — think bookcases, blanket boxes, Viking sea chests, foldable occasional beds, tables, and all sorts of other creations.

With material costs being a huge expense for us, we’ve saved a serious chunk of change. For now, the boards are safely stored under cover while we give them a good coat of thinking about.

On the heritage front, we’re also crafting a rustic shave horse, allowing us to demonstrate traditional “working wood” at exhibitions and displays. Old technology perhaps… but it still works a treat.

Meanwhile, Les is making great progress on “Georgie’s Lass”, our small John Boat, which is undergoing a full restoration. The work has been beautifully documented in photographs — but we can’t share them just yet, because Sally follows our page and we’re saving it for the big reveal!

We’ve also been gathering the footage and story for our upcoming Fund Me page. It’s still a little way off, but it’s getting close to launch.

We’re also anxiously awaiting the outcome of several funding bids which could kick-start some exciting new projects. Everything crossed.

Next week we have a couple of important visitors scheduled, so it’s “Spruce-Up Monday” again. Despite the miserable weather, we’re pressing ahead on all fronts.

Skills abound, morale is high… and the kettle is always on.
Happy Days.