As a part of our support for the world of Sail Training, we’re pleased to be able to offer the Youth Development Fund, an annual fund provided to support a range of projects aimed at helping youth development.
One of the recipients of the fund in 2020 was CatZero, a charitable organisation from the Northeast of England that supports people of all ages through the Sail Training experience. They were awarded £6,000 to support their Youth Futures project.
The Programme
CatZero’s Youth Futures project focused on supporting young people identified as, or at risk of becoming, NEET (not in employment, education or training). The programme took participants through a programme of land-based activities before a nine day voyage on the challenge class yacht, CatZero.
The land-based activities and voyage focused on team building and learning experiences that enabled entrants to build their personal development qualities, social skills, and self-control mechanisms. Following the programme, a Progressions Team worked with the young participants to use their experience to enter into further training, employment and continue their personal development.
Throughout the Youth Future’s project, CatZero’s relationship-based delivery ensured participants took the lead in their own development by using co-designed programme of activities that best meet their needs and helped address underlying issues adversely affecting them.
The project was completed across three sailing voyages, between July and October 2021. In total, 27 young people from the region were able to benefit from the fund support.The programme had a substantial impact on the young people taking part and the follow up highlighted this as 25 members achieved their competent crew certificate and two received their Start Yachting certificate.
A Long term and Life Changing Impact
Since the voyages, the positive impact of the Youth Futures project on participants has been evident. From those facing the challenges of anxiety and self-doubt to others looking to develop a career path after struggling with full time education, the program was able to provide the soft skills and inspiration to transform lives.
This transformative effect was demonstrated particularly well in the voyage experience of Lily* from the Northeast of England. Living in supported accommodation and experiencing ongoing difficulties with her mental health, Lily initial struggled with her attendance and her participation in the land-based activities of the Youth Futures project was sporadic, putting her participation in the final sail in doubt. All participants had to ‘earn’ their place on the boat and prove they were committed enough to complete the four-hour watch system on board.
Following her initial participation issues, Lily was able to increase her attendance and input into her action plan thanks to the support of the CatZero team, proving her commitment and enabling her to take part in the voyage. The crew feedback from the boat was very positive and Lily said it was “an amazing experience” and noted that she was even able to cease smoking during thanks to the voyage putting her “in a good mindset to do so”.
Such was the positive experience, Lily has now enrolled in further education at her local institute and looks forward to sailing again and is even considering a full time career at sea.
Supporting Sail Training Around the world
Beyond the Tall Ships Races, Sail Training International works closely with the world’s sail training Tall Ships, national sail training organisations and host ports to help young people benefit from the sail training experience. In addition, we regularly organise seminars, fund research and publications relating to the benefits of experiential learning through sail training to young people, and much more.
Every year we continue to be moved, motivated and inspired by the difference participating in sail training makes to young people’s lives. We see young people from all environments, and particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, grow in confidence, rise to challenges, overcome fears, make lifelong friends and enjoy the adventure of a lifetime. Some of the young people we help go on to enjoy careers in the maritime sector whilst others draw on their experience to make their way in the world with their newly acquired confidence and skills.
As we approach our 65th year in an ever changing world, we would like to invite individuals and organisations who believe in young people and whose values resonate with ours to support the work we do.
*names have been changed to maintain participant confidentiality
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Funding and Bursaries
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