Think of the Balearic Islands and chances are you think; sun sea and sangria. Mention the word luxury and superyachts, luxury villas and performance cars come to mind.
Not many connect the holiday destination with the altogether less becoming image of island poverty.
Yet according to the Balearic branch of the European Anti Poverty Network (EAPN), almost 25% of the Islands’ 276,000 population, is at risk of social exclusion. And that figure is rising.
EAPN says that 87,000 people, 7.8% of the Balearic population, survive on just 355 euros per month.
Seeking to help close the stark disparity between rich and poor is a campaign called Yachting Gives Back.
Nick Entwisle
Yachting Gives Back, is a concept founded by Nick Entwisle, who works for the Global Yacht Group (GYG)
For the last 27 years he has gained industry notoriety and friends by running the annual Pinmar Yachtsman’s Golf Tournament.
The Global Yachting Group (GYG) operates six superyacht brands; Pinmar, Pinmar USA, Pinmar Supply, Rolling Stock, ACA Marine and Techno Craft.
In May Nick will retire from GYG but he is keen to stay involved in the yachting community. He plans a more hands-on approach to his already generous charitable endeavours.
Nick plans to use his extensive industry contracts to enlist support for his Yachting Gives Back initiative. He has already secured the commitment of Pinmar Supply and is looking for others to get onboard.
“The yachting industry is surrounded by incredible luxury and it’s very easy to forget that people are struggling right on our doorstep,” says Nick. “Employment in the Balearics is often seasonal and low-paid, making it hard for people to pay rent as well as put food on the table.” He adds, “Whether yacht crew or service businesses, we are fortunate to make our living from some of the wealthiest people on the planet. Therefore, we are in a position where we can easily give something back to this beautiful island community we call home.”
Helping local charities
Yachting Gives Back plans to work with several local charities, including Shambhala Fundación which works with vulnerable young people. They also work with Associació Tardor and Mallorca Sense Fam (Mallorca Without Hunger). Both deliver foodstuffs to those in need.
Currently much of this food is sourced from Mallorca’s Banco de Alimentos (Food Bank) which itself plans to collect 1,400,000kg of food this year to help the 20,000 or more workers or retirees who cannot make ends meet.
Tracey Miller, the General Manager at Pinmar Supply, commented, “I think Yachting Gives Back is a fantastic initiative. It’s one that Pinmar Supply is delighted to partner. We plan to collaborate with our wide network of yachting customers and fellow industry service companies to put together a huge food-raising drive.”
Three campaigns
Customers can take cardboard boxes from any Pinmar Supply outlets, including delivery vans, and fill them with foodstuffs, hygiene products and other useful items. Pinmar will also deliver empty boxes to local businesses. When they’re full, Nick and his team will be happy to collect them. The plan is to run three campaigns a year Easter, end of summer season and Christmas. Tracy adds, “Although, of course, we will be very happy to collect donations at any time.”
Yacht catering and provisioning company Delicioso has also lent support to Yachting Gives Back. It will offer its clients the opportunity to add a contribution to their orders and then deliver the donation directly to us – with 20% more food given by Delicioso themselves.
Yachting Gives Back is asking yacht crew for non-perishables such as pasta, rice, flour, tinned vegetables, milk, fruit juice and pasta sauces, alongside hygiene products like shampoo, soap and toothbrushes.
