raybelcharters

07/03/2022

We’re pleased to introduce you to the Raybel Makers, who are a group of people meeting regularly to practice creativity, share ideas, collaborate and inspire each other (whilst drinking tea and eating biscuits).

The creative collective will use Lloyd’s Wharf as place to meet, greet new members and use this amazing space steeped in all its history and industrial beauty as source of inspiration.

We’re super excited and look forward to documenting their explorative use of media and ideas in the hope to inspire and enrich other creatives across the Swale Borough :)

21/02/2022

Half the cover taken off in Fridays storm. Bosun Rob and stalwart volunteer Rod lashed it down, tied it up and put below anything that may have blown away.

With more winds today might not be until Tuesday for any further repairs to main cover.

But has also given us a glimpse of Raybel’s new bow emerging defiant and robustly from beneath.

09/02/2022

The Raybellians charting the course ahead. We have an incredibly busy year in the pipeline, with lots of exciting planning for Raybel’s future with Sail Cargo, expanding our reach across the inland waterways, cementing our roots in Sittingbourne with the evolution of Lloyd’s Wharf, expanding our creative practice to other interesting area’s linked to waterside regeneration and heritage and so much more!

Watch this space …

01/02/2022

Posted • Something a bit different on the Raybel today. Rolling h**p ready to plug in-between the new deck planks. Good that for some things the traditional ways are still used.

Bit of a tidal surge meant there was no getting off for a while too.

06/01/2022

Happy New Year from the !

Big year coming up for us ... here’s some things we’ll be trying to make happen ...

Finish restoration of hull and decking 💪🏼
Pull in more funding for sails and rigging ✍️
Get out of the dry dock🙏

Support and to bring more sustainable ethical produce to local markets⛵️

Research inspiring Deptford Creek heritage stories for 🗣

Upping our links with Sittingbourne and Sheppey schools👫🙎🏼‍♀️🙋🏽‍♂️
Raybel history exhibition goes on tour - first stop Sittingbourne library📚

New bird hide for the Creek twitchers with RSPB🦜🦅🦉
Get that compost loo sorted out on the wharf😫

New ventures to watch for - hello Manchester?😊

And generally work with lots more wonderful like-minded to create a truly 🤩

Big wishes for all your hopes and dreams and looking forward to working with all partners and pioneers again this year 💙💙

04/01/2022

Happy New Year from 💙💕

With all best wishes for your health, happiness and hopes for the year.

Once the Yule decs come down, what are our wishes for 2022?

This will be our fourth year of bringing products to London markets by sail boat. Each year we’ve done a little more. How much is ‘enough’? It’s a question we often ask, not wanting to be driven by some relentless growth path or ‘scaling up’. Above all it’s about connecting with you, with zero waste shops, restaurants, cafes and markets where we all share in a DIY vision of creating the future ourselves.

But some new ideas on the brew. Making more of the canals in London, which we began to explore last year. Having a pop-up storage and shop space. Working with coastal Kent, Essex and Suffolk producers to bring your goods to London by Thames barge, alongside the cross ocean cargoes.....

And we’re always delighted to hear from new partners and dreamers who want to join us.

Looking forward to sharing the journey with you all.

18/12/2021

Posted • Raybel is really coming on strong! Dropped off some wine from Portugal for the shipwright team and volunteer team ahead of Saturdays open day, and some cargo that will be for sale on the day
The shipwrights love a photo opportunity..

18/12/2021

14/12/2021

See you there - Open Day thjs Saturday 😀😀

01/12/2021

** NEWS !! **

Thrilled to be able to reveal this news, a new project we’ve had in development for nearly a year now ....

just about to get underway with a v exciting new community project about the maritime heritage of a much overlooked part of London’s riverscape – Deptford Creek.

We’ve long loved this hidden little waterway on the south side of the Thames, and – working alongside the and – are delighted to have secured funding (thanks ) to explore the history of the Creek, and raise some important questions and possibilities about its future.

Deptford Creek is utterly unique – the last remaining Creek running into the Thames which can still be reached by sail boat. All the others have become hemmed in by locks, buried underground or bridged over.

It’s heritage is fascinating too – Deptford was once brimming with small boatyards and wharves, and it’s here that the trading history of the English colonial era really began – with all the contemporary issues of trade, climate change and social justice that come with that. All themes tightly entwined with Raybel Charters mission to re-imagine trade for a zero carbon, socially fair future.

We’ll be researching more about this heritage story, and its meaning for today, with a group of young people, through partnership links with the Know Your Worth mentorship programme and . Other partners we’re delighted are involved in the project are Thanks too for support from and

It will all culminate in a new immersive performance piece to be staged on the and the as part of 2022.

Looking forward to getting started … AND … we need one extra member of the project team – on community outreach / engagement side. E-mail [email protected] for more.

28/11/2021

Dear friends of Raybel,

Join us on our festive open day, where we will be hosting a plethora of festive activities and entertainment!

Saturday 18th December 12-4:30pm.
The day will include mulled wine and mince pies, barge tours, our extended exhibition, festive stone baked pizzas, a small craft fair, Christmas tree decoration workshop, lantern-making workshop, festive music and Christmas film entertainment.

From 4:30-6:30pm, there will be the Mayor's Charity Fund event which will include a very special Christmas tree and lighting ceremony.

No booking required ... just bring yourself and a sack full of festive cheer!

Festive wishes, The Raybellians X

Address (Lloyd's Wharf, Sittingbourne, ME10 2XD - located next to The Mill Skate Park - behind the retail park).