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The UK’s largest youth development sailing training charity has appealed to raise at least £ 1.5million to purchase an additional tall ship to help hundreds of young people more per year with a “life changing†trip.
Tall Ships Youth Trust (TSYT) currently has a fleet of four 72-foot Challenger yachts and a 55-foot ketch, which enables the association to take 1,000 young people to sea each year.
Its new LifeChanger call aims to raise funds to purchase and refit an additional 70 to 80 foot (10 to 12 berth) vessel, increasing its sailing capacity by approximately 250 young people per year. The funds will also cover the running costs of three years, including scholarships for 750 young people for a trip.
The Fiducie, which works with young people aged 12 to 25, is particularly committed to supporting people from disadvantaged backgrounds, 75% of its beneficiaries coming from this cohort.
Some of the challenges these young people face include physical, mental or learning difficulties. Some are young carers and others have been excluded from mainstream education and are on the verge of committing or already involved in crime. As well as young people who have been physically or mentally abused.
The charity says young people have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic with unprecedented levels of disruption to their education, feelings of isolation and negative impacts on their mental and physical well-being.
Vivienne Cox, Chair of the LifeChanger Appeal Committee of TSYT, said: “It is widely recognized that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds do not have the same opportunities and chances in life as their better-off peers. This has been further exacerbated by the pandemic.
“Mental health referrals for our young people have doubled since the start of the pandemic and recent reports of nearly 200,000 referrals in just three months only show that the problem is getting worse.
“We know that a weeklong trip on one of our iconic ships, with the support of our experienced youth sailing development team, gives these young people the opportunity to change their lives. “
TSYT, which has taken more than 500 young people on the trip since restrictions were first relaxed in early June, says it has seen demand for its services increase exponentially as a direct result of the pandemic.
Ms Cox added: “However, with limited capacity, we are currently unable to meet this demand, which means hundreds of young people are not being supported.
“That is why we are making this appeal and why we must act urgently to bring this additional vessel into service as quickly as possible.”
At the launch of the LifeChanger call, organized by the shipping company Clarksons, at its offices in St Katharine Docks, the TSYT Youth Ambassador, Katie craven, shared his story.
She said: “My first trip opened my eyes and showed me that I can do better. It completely changed my life. Every day on board is different and you are always learning something new. You are with different people from different backgrounds, but no one is judging you.
“You have to work together, whatever. It really helped me deal with my emotions and get along better with people.
TSYT invites businesses and philanthropists to get in touch if they are interested in learning more and helping. Interested parties should contact James Hudson, Director of Fundraising and Marketing: [email protected]
Meet some of the young people who changed their lives sailing with the Tall Ships Youth Trust here.
About Tall Ships Youth Trust
Tall Ships Youth Trust is the UK’s oldest and largest youth development sailing training charity. It places particular emphasis on working with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and offers young people aged 12 to 25 life-changing experiences at sea for 65 years.
The charity says: “On the high seas, young people form a small community and together they develop the life skills, confidence and self-esteem necessary to ‘sail beyond their horizon’ and achieve their true meaning. potential.
“A survey of 665 travel crew members who sailed with us in 2019, found that 97% continued or remained in employment, education or training. Our travels were seen as the catalyst for this positive outcome.
“The negative effect of the pandemic on the lives of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds means that the demand for our trips is now greater than ever. We have the knowledge and the expertise to help these young people. But to do this, we urgently need to increase our capacity at sea. “
The association currently operates with four 72-foot Challenger yachts (famous for having sailed around the world several times) and a 55-foot ketch.
The call will benefit hundreds of additional young people per year, through the purchase and refurbishment of an additional tall ship. The funds raised through the appeal will also cover the running costs of the first three years, including scholarships for 750 young people.
www.tallships.org
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