Royal Navy life rafts upcycled to produce bags in new innovative project

A new initiative has been launched to recycle Royal Navy life rafts to produce a stylish accessory.
By Sophie Lewis
Published 28th Apr 2023, 16:29 BST
Updated 28th Apr 2023, 16:29 BST
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The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) has launched a new line of upcycled products in partnership with the Royal Navy and youth charity, Oarsome Chance.

Each bag is made from decommissioned Royal Navy life rafts that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill and the money raised from the new collection will be donated back to the RNRMC and Oarsome Chance.

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Each item in the collection is made in Oarsome Chance’s studio, where students are involved with the design and construction of the products through their specialised in-house training programme.

Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity have now partnered with local charity ‘Oarsome Chance’ who bring about change for disadvantaged young people in the Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant areas by using the powerful incentive of sport in combination with vocational training. Oarsome Chance and their manufacturing arm Canvasworks have taken items from the RNRMC and produced goods from them. Pictured is: (third from left) Pablo Madrid,Canvas Works, (fourth from left) Paul Napthine, ceo of Oarsome Chance, (third from right) Bob Field, head of supporter services and engagement at RNRMC, (second from right) WO 1 George Reeves from the Royal Navy with students from Oarsome Chance. Picture: Sarah Standing (270423-2580)Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity have now partnered with local charity ‘Oarsome Chance’ who bring about change for disadvantaged young people in the Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant areas by using the powerful incentive of sport in combination with vocational training. Oarsome Chance and their manufacturing arm Canvasworks have taken items from the RNRMC and produced goods from them. Pictured is: (third from left) Pablo Madrid,Canvas Works, (fourth from left) Paul Napthine, ceo of Oarsome Chance, (third from right) Bob Field, head of supporter services and engagement at RNRMC, (second from right) WO 1 George Reeves from the Royal Navy with students from Oarsome Chance. Picture: Sarah Standing (270423-2580)
Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity have now partnered with local charity ‘Oarsome Chance’ who bring about change for disadvantaged young people in the Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant areas by using the powerful incentive of sport in combination with vocational training. Oarsome Chance and their manufacturing arm Canvasworks have taken items from the RNRMC and produced goods from them. Pictured is: (third from left) Pablo Madrid,Canvas Works, (fourth from left) Paul Napthine, ceo of Oarsome Chance, (third from right) Bob Field, head of supporter services and engagement at RNRMC, (second from right) WO 1 George Reeves from the Royal Navy with students from Oarsome Chance. Picture: Sarah Standing (270423-2580)

Bob Field, head of support services and engagement for RNRMC said: ‘I knew from my last job in The Royal Navy that the MoD disposed of disused items in varying ways, including some going to landfill at a cost. With the help of my colleagues, I thought there’s got to be a creative solution here.

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‘Through this project we’ve managed to take difficult or impossible to recycle materials, materials destined for a landfill, and make incredible products with new value.’

Oarsome Chance is a charity that works with children who are at risk of exclusion and it offers a range of activities including bike mechanics and musical performance and production.

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Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity have now partnered with local charity ‘Oarsome Chance’ who bring about change for disadvantaged young people in the Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant areas by using the powerful incentive of sport in combination with vocational training. Oarsome Chance and their manufacturing arm Canvasworks have taken items from the RNRMC and produced goods from them. Pictured is:Students from Oarsome Chance (back) India (10) with (front l-r) Logan (12), Carter (12) and Jacob (12). Picture: Sarah Standing (270423-2572)Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity have now partnered with local charity ‘Oarsome Chance’ who bring about change for disadvantaged young people in the Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant areas by using the powerful incentive of sport in combination with vocational training. Oarsome Chance and their manufacturing arm Canvasworks have taken items from the RNRMC and produced goods from them. Pictured is:Students from Oarsome Chance (back) India (10) with (front l-r) Logan (12), Carter (12) and Jacob (12). Picture: Sarah Standing (270423-2572)
Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity have now partnered with local charity ‘Oarsome Chance’ who bring about change for disadvantaged young people in the Portsmouth, Gosport and Havant areas by using the powerful incentive of sport in combination with vocational training. Oarsome Chance and their manufacturing arm Canvasworks have taken items from the RNRMC and produced goods from them. Pictured is:Students from Oarsome Chance (back) India (10) with (front l-r) Logan (12), Carter (12) and Jacob (12). Picture: Sarah Standing (270423-2572)

Paul Napthine, CEO of Oarsome Chance said: ‘Our collaboration with RNRMC around the new RNRMC x Canvas Works product range is so exciting on many levels. Not only is it a fantastic charity partnership, a way for the two organisations to support each other’s goals, but also a way for both charities to raise funds.’

Related topics:Royal NavySouthsea