It was once the shipbuilding capital of the world and the launch site of some of the most powerful vessels ever to sail the seas.

Now two new Glasgow-built vessels have taken to the Clyde at Govan, crafted just as the mighty ships of the past were.

But these are no steel-clad leviathans, but wooden boats made by volunteers seeking refuge from the stresses of unemployment, addiction, and mental health problems.

The boats are the work of the Anchor and Sail project, set up to help people on the fringes of society regain the dignity that comes with building and working.

Seeing the boats launched was the culmination of the hard work of dozens of volunteers who came together to build the boats using traditional working practices.

Project leader Ben Duffin said: “The point of the project is to introduce people to boat building and teach them the skills they need.

“Anybody can volunteer and learn, and some go on to be apprentices and take their qualifications.”

He added: “But boat building is not for everybody. It takes precision and a meticulous nature.

“But it’s very rewarding for those who want to learn. The guys all take ownership of the boats they work on.”

Anchor and Sail is jointly run by the Galgael Trust and the Clyde Maritime Trust and is funded by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The three-year project will see over 200 people from the Govan community build four new boats, while eight will be taken on as long-term apprentices.

One apprentice, Alan Matthews, said he felt despondent and worthless after being made unemployed in 2006, and unemployment was having a serious effect on his health until he began work on the boat.

He said: “I was stressed out and depressed. I was seeing a psychologist and he suggested that I shouldn’t be idle so I started doing a bit of joinery and carpentry volunteering. I discovered that I had a knack for it and I really enjoyed it.”

Alan moved on to volunteer with Galgael and his natural talent at woodworking was soon spotted helping him secure an apprenticeship. For the last 12 months he has been building a clinker dinghy, called Annie B, from scratch.

He said: “I have learned so much from putting pencil to paper to do the original drawing then taking those and translating them into the lofting – full size drawings for making patterns. I’ve learned how to use lots of machines as well as developing woodworking skills. Working in a team in an encouraging environment.

“I now have a feeling of self-worth. I feel as though my life has direction.”
One of the boats was built to a commission, while the other will be sold.
Gehan Macleod, GalGael Trust Programme Director, said the project was about restoring the volunteer’s peace of mind through work and good company.

She said: “The way we look at it, we don’t work with people who are dysfunctional, we work with people who have been through dysfunctional circumstance.”

She added: “Some people come here and are already skilled wood workers, but are just needing the camaraderie and environment.”