Boat of Hope

A campaign to make a difference

Bernie Hollywood OBE is a charity guru, social entrepreneur and adventurer. Moved by the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on the mental health of young people around the country, Bernie decided to make a difference.

With an ambitious plan to row solo across the Atlantic, he set out to raise awareness of the severity of this issue, and vital funds for two charities: Samaritans and Love Rowing.

We came on board along with agency client ParentPay, one of Bernie’s key sponsors. From the start, the campaign was a collaborative effort. There was artwork design for his boat by renowned artist Justin Eagleton, helped along by children from all over the country, and Bernie & Boatie a book by talented author Natalie Reeves Billing, voiced by Melanie C and Sacha Dhawan.

We worked with Bernie at every stage, providing support on his social media and media relations, through milestones including the boat’s unveiling at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, its naming ceremony in Liverpool, and multiple fundraising events around the country.