Pudsey Bear will sail into Ramsgate on Wednesday (August 5) as part of the Big Bear Voyage 2026 – a three-month, 2,200-mile sail around the UK’s coastline to raise awareness and funds for the 1 in 5 children experiencing mental health challenges.
Big Bear yacht owners Jonathan and Jackie Brewin, along with a crew of friends and Pudsey Bear, setsail from Hamble (near Southampton) on 14 May, with the aim of raising £70,000 for BBC’s Children in Need.
The three month voyage includes calling at 35 towns and cities and visiting all four countries of the UK: England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Along the route, Pudsey and the crew have been connecting with local communities through walks and fundraising activities, building awareness and inspiring support for young people facing adversity.
Jonathan said: “This year I turn 70. Rather than marking the occasion quietly, my wife Jackie and I decided to do something more purposeful – raising £70,000 for a charity that achieves so much for young people in need.
“One of the most special parts of this voyage is that many of our crew have been friends for more than 40 years. We’ve shared a lifetime of experiences and now we have the chance to take on something meaningful as a team. That sense of friendship, trust and shared purpose will be just as important as the sailing itself.
“Supporting the mental health of children is at the heart of this voyage. Through BBC Children in Need, we know that real, practical help is reaching young people across the UK.
“If this journey can raise awareness as well as funds, and encourage conversations about mental wellbeing, it will have achieved something truly worthwhile.”
So far, the team has raised more than £56,000 and taken Pudsey Bear to 70+ events, appeared twice on BBC TV, featured in more than 50 newspapers, and spoken on local radio stations.
Pudsey’s adventures so far include:
- Boarding the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh
- Sailing under Tower Bridge
- Meeting festival-goers at the Edinburgh Festival Carnival
- Taking part in the circus
- Being the “headline bear” at Royal Windsor Racecourse.
- Signing the Visitors’ Book with Deputy Speaker John Blair at the Northern Ireland Assembly in Stormont
- Meeting the Earl of Antrim at Glenarm Castle
Pudsey and the Big Bear crew will be in Ramsgate on August 5-6. Arrival is estimated for 4.30pm/5pm with departure Thursday at 9am.
Follow the journey at: https://www.facebook.com/Bigbearvoyage
