Fawley (29 April 2008) -- Sea Scouts in the New Forest will be messing about in boats with new enthusiasm after taking delivery of a brand new sailing dinghy.

The 4^th New Forest North (Eling) Sea Scouts, who sail at Testwood Lakes in Totton, have bought the new craft with a £750 grant from Esso and ExxonMobil Chemical at Fawley, in recognition of the time and effort one employee has put into volunteering with the group.

The money has been donated under a special scheme designed to recognise the efforts of ExxonMobil employees and their families who contribute their time, talent and energy to schools, charities and non-profit making organisations. The scheme not only helps local organisations, but also improves the links between ExxonMobil and the local community.

The grant applicant was Peter Daniel who works as a process operator at the refinery in Fawley. He has been involved with the scout group for five years and is currently their fundraiser.

He said: “As well as being great fun, sailing is also a good way of teaching young people about safety. As a company, ExxonMobil is really hot on all aspects of safety so it seems particularly appropriate that this grant has been used in this way.

“You just have to look at the faces of the youngsters involved to see how much they enjoy the water. There is no way we would have been able to afford this boat without the grant and it means that we will be able to get more youngsters out on the water at the same time.”

The ExxonMobil Volunteer Involvement Programme at Fawley, together with its sister scheme for school governors, has so far contributed more than £300,000 to local community projects since it was started four years ago.