Whitehaven Sea Cadets were blown away by two generous donations in the space of as many weeks.

The first donation came in the form of a new boat.

Formerly an inshore patrol boat used by the North WesternFisheries and Conservation Authority (NWIFCA), it had become surplus to requirements and was gifted to the unit to be used as a training vessel and safety boat.

C.P.O. (SCC) Stuart McCourt, Commanding Officer at Whitehaven Sea Cadets said “We have been absolutely blown away by the generosity of these donations.

“The new boat means that we can get even more young people out onto the water having fun and developing their boat handling skills.”

There was then a second donation as two cheques totalling £2300 from the Provincial Grand Masters initiative match funding.

David Bowden, West Cumbria group chairman Provincial Grand Lodge and Keith Straughton, charity steward, of Lewis Lodge number 872 Whitehaven called into the unit last week to meet the cadets and hand over the cheques.

Simon Ferguson, Unit Chair said “The cheques from the two lodges mean the world to a small charity like ours and moves us ever closer to our long-term ambition of a permanent home.

“We can’t thank both organisations enough, we are so privileged to be part of such a an amazingly kind and generous community.”

The youth organisation was forced to move after Whitehaven was battered by a storm in 2013.

They have since been on the search for a permanent home having used Whitehaven Police Station to parade and are currently in Kent House, Carter Lane.