The Veterans' Foundation has awarded £30,000 to the Viking Boat Company to support a unique veteran-led initiative to build a replica Viking boat.
The charity’s purpose is to help ex-military personnel develop mental resilience and coping strategies to counter the effects of PTSD, anxiety, stress, loneliness, and isolation to help them lead active and fulfilling lives in their community.
We have now awarded the Viking Boat Company £50,000 in grants and the latest initiative has seen over 100 veterans play their part in building ’Stormbird’ which measures 30 feet in length and was constructed under the supervision of boatwrights and Viking experts, giving their time on a voluntary basis.
The vessel was showcased at the iconic annual Jorvik Viking Festival in York in February, 2025.
The founder of The Viking Boat Company is Bob Marshall and he said the time and concentration required from veterans who have joined with the build has helped with their mental health.
“The boat is a wonderful thing and it’s a beautiful piece of woodwork,” he said.
“This project is about more than just building a boat. It’s about giving veterans a place to rebuild, connect, and thrive.
“The £30,000 Veterans’ Foundation grant is a significant part of all the funding we have received, so we are very grateful for this support.”
Head of grants at the Veterans’ Foundation, Stewart Macgregor, said: “This is a unique initiative that enables veterans to acquire new skills and a purpose that helps them build resilience and cope with often complex mental health issues following their valued service in the UK armed forces.“
We were delighted to be able to support this work and love the results. The veterans who worked on this boat should feel very proud of everything they have achieved.”
