News
Deptherapy awarded prestigious Trusted Charity Mark
Scuba Diving rehabilitation charity Deptherapy is delighted to announce that it has been awarded the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) Trusted Charity Mark. In an unprecedented award, Deptherapy is the first volunteer-managed and run charity ever to receive this Mark.
The award of the Trusted Charity Mark follows several months of rigorous and complex assessment in a process that is normally reserved for larger charities managed and operated by paid employees.
In order to receive the Mark, Deptherapy had to meet the criteria in eleven areas of the quality standard including Governance, Leadership and Management, Managing Money, and Working with Others.
The Assessor praised the “robust leadership” of Deptherapy’s close-knit Trustee Board, which “ensures that the charity is led with transparency and integrity.” He also said that the charity “has developed a very strong reputation as a world leader in adaptive scuba diving techniques and has developed clear and robust policies and procedures to ensure that the organisation is efficiently run and works to a very high standard.”
Daimon Haywood, Vice Chairman and Trustee of Deptherapy, said:
“Jim Lovell, the NASA astronaut said: “There are people who make things happen, there are people who watch things happen, and there are people who wonder what happened. To be successful, you need to be a person who makes things happen.” We are a charity built on a team that makes things happen. We have received the Trusted Charity Mark through sheer hard work and the dedication of an amazing team of volunteers who change lives.”
eptherapy Programme Members Andy Searle and Jon Beever taking part in a coral reef surveying and conservation course at Roots Red Sea. Photo – Dmitry Knyazev for Deptherapy.
Debra Lilley, who became President of Deptherapy in April 2019, said:
“When I was invited to be President of Deptherapy I first wanted to understand their governance; as a Chartered Director this is very important to me. Receiving the NCVO Trusted Charity Mark is official recognition of what I found: a charity run in a way others should absolutely aspire to match.”
The award of the Trusted Charity Mark comes just a month before the charity undertakes its largest expedition yet to the Red Sea with a team of 30 divers travelling to Roots in El Quseir to undertake Open Water Training and Continuing Education up to Adaptive Teaching & Divemaster level.
The team will be joined on this trip by four people from outside the charity who will be undertaking the Deptherapy Education Pros’ Course. Also joining the group are three British instructors, one from Egypt and two from Saudi Arabia, together with photographer Dmitry Knyazev.
On 28th May, Programme Member Tom Oates, accompanied by Deptherapy’s Chairman Richard Cullen, will deliver a presentation to the Board of the Royal Foundation’s Endeavour Fund. Tom and Richard will talk about Team Deptherapy’s commitment to ‘giving back’, with particular reference to the Protecting our Oceans project and how this is being further developed and enhanced.
The Deptherapy Board wishes to thank the Confederation of British Service Charities (COBSEO) for its support during the Trusted Charity Mark assessment process.
For more information about the work of Deptherapy and Deptherapy Education visit www.deptherapy.co.uk.
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
Cozy and warm in cold water.
It’s drysuit season all year round. With the new RS series premium drysuits from DYNAMICNORD, divers are perfectly equipped for all cold waters.
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The suit’s features leave nothing to be desired: A high-quality TiZip zipper, easily adjustable inlet and outlet valves, upgradeable with electrically heated underwear, HP bottleneck cuffs made of high-strength latex on the wrists, a 3mm neoprene neck cuff for maximum comfort, a 7mm hood with air outlet and 3mm boots made of double-sided, cross-layered neoprene with ankle straps and fin strap stoppers and a protective but very flexible sole.
Noteworthy is the Molle fastening system, which can be used in a variable and compatible manner. This way, the two detachable leg pockets can be attached easily, safely and comfortably.
Alterations of boots to a different shoe size or adjustments to neck or wrist cuffs are done free of charge at the own DYNAMICNORD service centre in Germany in only a couple of days.
The matching Dynaskins made with high-quality Polartec® technology are available in various designs. As an undersuit under the drysuit, as a single suit in warm waters or as a two-piece suit. Polartec® technology’s main features are neutral buoyancy, breathablilty and quick-drying.
Dynaskins are made largely from recycled plastic bottles.
The drysuit RS-351 for men and RS-352 for women are now available at your DYNAMICNORD dealer and in the online store.
Colors men and women: Black-Blue and Black-Burgundy
Sizes men: XS-4XL incl. intermediate sizes MS, MT, MLS, MLT, LS, LT, XLS, XLT, 2XLS, 3XLS, 4XLS
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DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.
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