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Sail Training International

Youth Development Fund

Sail Training International is pleased to be able to provide a range of funds that support the continued delivery and development of sail training around the world. One of these funds, the Youth Development Fund, supports organisations that deliver sail training programmes reaching young people from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds.

The Youth Development Fund was launched in 2019, and since then it has helped over 20 organisations from around the world deliver some amazing sail training projects. Through grants up to £10,000, it is aimed at helping organisations develop more effective sail training programmes for young people aged between 14-25 years, and supporting them in expanding the reach of these projects within diverse and disadvantaged communities.

Expression of Interest Forms & Full applications for the 2027 Sail Training International Youth Development Fund are now being accepted.

Please note projects must be of a Sail Training nature and take place in 2027. Funding will start in December 2026.

Grant Timeline

Deadline for Expressions of Interest 31st July 2026
Expression of Interest assessment deadline 30th August 2026
Deadline for Applications 30th September 2026
Grant decisions announcedNovember 2026
End of project Evaluations completed before 14th October 2027

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM

SUBMIT A FULL APPLICATION

 

Who Can Apply?

We welcome applications from organisations around the world, including sail training operators, schools, National Sail Training Organisations and land-based organisations, that deliver youth sail training programmes. Organisations can be land-based as well as existing sail training providers, but should ensure their programmes support disadvantaged young people aged 14-25 years.

You can apply for funding for new programmes or to expand existing projects that are already benefiting young people. Grants can be used to fund personnel, equipment, and other direct expenses essential to the project, as well as community outreach and staff or volunteer training essential to the project.

Please note that all approved projects must take place on a vessel that meets our approved vessel criteria. You will be asked to submit a completed Approved Vessel Criteria Form to confirm this as part of your application.

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ALL PARTICIPANTS ARE AGED 14-25 YEARS

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IMPROVES PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND/OR EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

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ENHANCES INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP AND UNDERSTANDING

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USES REPLICABLE MODELS OF INNOVATION

“I am really proud of myself for sticking at it and completing the sail. I was a little unsure at first but once we got going it was amazing.”

“It was great a great experience and I have some memories and new friends that I will keep forever.”
Kim, CatZero ‘Youth Futures’ Project Participant

LOOKING FOR PROJECT INSPIRATION?

Since being launched, we have received some amazing applications and awarded the funds to inspirational projects from organisations around the world. You can find case studies on some of the previous projects our funds have supported below.

CATZERO

CatZero were awarded £6,000 to support their Youth Futures project.

ECOMARIS

Ecomaris from Montreal were awarded $10,000 Canadian dollars for their “Cosmic Plankton” program.

STS LEEUWIN II

Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation were awarded €5,000 to support their Drought Affected Communities project.

“The support of Sail Training International provided each of these young people an outstanding opportunity to experience something completely new.”

“They were challenged and they sought to achieve their goals during their voyage experiences.”
Carol Shannon, CEO Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation

EOI’s for the 2027 Sail Training International Youth Development Fund are now being accepted. Please note projects must be of a Sail Training nature and take place in 2027. Funding will start in December 2026.

For help completing this form we advise you to read the guidance notes available.

Guidance Notes

If you are interested in applying, but are unsure if your project meets the funding criteria, you can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Youth Development Fund. To submit an EOI, all you need to do is complete the form below providing a summary of your proposed project, which will then be reviewed by the funding committee.

Once you submit an EOI, the Funding Committee will advise if the proposed project meets the funding criteria and provide support feedback where needed when completing your full application.

Expression of Interest Form

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Please provide details for the person who will be leading your project and will be the main point of contact for Sail Training International.

Project start date must be after 31/12/26
IS YOUR PROJECT SAIL TRAINING RELATED?
IS YOUR PROJECT A NEW OR EXISTING PROJECT?
Confirm

Application’s for the 2027 Sail Training International Youth Development Fund are now being accepted. Please note projects must be of a Sail Training nature and take place in 2027. Funding will start in December 2026.

For help completing this form we advise you to read the guidance notes available.

Guidance Notes

To save this form and complete later, please use the ‘Save & Resume’ link at the bottom of the page.

Application deadline: 30th September 2026

Youth Development Fund: Full Application Form

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Please provide details for the person who will be leading your project and will be the main point of contact for Sail Training International.

Name

Please provide details about your organisation.

(Charity, Registered, Unregistered Company?)
(If applicable)
Address

Please provide details about your Project.

Is this a new or existing project?
Project Timeline (Est MM/YY)
Are all Participants aged 14 – 25 Years?
Include details regarding implementation of the project, case management, project services, placement in jobs or continuing education, and follow up (Max 300 Words)
Include details regarding the specialties your sailing project offers (Max 300 Words)
Include any demographic information and the number of youth to be served per project period and indicate if the project targets specific disadvantaged youth populations (I.E. pregnant teens, offenders, youth with mental health issues etc.) Please include the percentage of number of young people in your project that struggle with financial, social, or physical disadvantages. (Max 300 Words)
If you have not previously worked with the youth population that will be served by the project, please detail the outreach and recruitment strategies you will be using. (Max 200 Words)

List the objective(s) of the project, the action that will be taken to reach this objective, and how this action will be evaluated and assessed. Please be specific – The objective(s) need to be measurable: describe the “who” and “how” and be time bound. A minimum of one objective is required.

Objective 1

Objective 2

Objective 3

Objective 4

Please note: Collaboration includes any input from other parties in the programme, including but not limited to; financial contributions, benefit in kind sponsorship, any input from political or religious organisations.

Please provide the following financial information for the project. If you do not have funding for any of the areas please enter 0.

(STI + OTHER TOTAL)
Please list all sources of programme revenue secured or proposed. Be specific, for example, if total foundation support is from several foundations, please list the names of each foundation.
  • I UNDERSTAND THE GRANT WILL BE PAID IN 3 STAGES AND MY PROPOSED PROJECT IS VIABLE UNDER THIS ARRANGEMENT.
  • I AGREE TO COMPLETE AND DELIVER THE PROJECT EVALUATION WITHIN 6 WEEKS OF THE PROJECT COMPLETION. THIS INCLUDES THE SHARING OF TRAINEES DEMOGRAPHICS.
  • I AGREE TO DELIVER AT LEAST FIVE HIGH-RES IMAGES AND/OR VIDEOS AND OTHER MATERIAL FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES WITHIN 6 WEEKS OF THE PROJECT COMPLETION - Please send these separately.
  • I AGREE THAT SAIL TRAINING INTERNATIONAL HAS MY ORGANISATIONS PERMISSION TO USE THE MATERIAL IN THIS FORM, AND OTHER REPORTS SUBMITTED ON THE PROJECT, FOR ITS OWN PROMOTION, PUBLICATION AND DISSEMINATION OF GOOD PRACTISE TO OTHER SAIL TRAINING OPERATORS.
  • I AGREE ALL MATERIALS AND FINDINGS WILL BE SUBMITED TO SAIL TRAINING INTERNATIONAL FREE OF CHARGE AND THAT ALL MATERIALS WILL BE PROVIDED ACCORDING TO DATA PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS AND COPIES OF SIGNED DISCLAIMERS AND PERSMISSIONS FOR ANYONE CAPTURED IN A PHOTO OR VIDEO WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE.
  • I AGREE TO ACKNOWLEDGE SAIL TRAINING INTERNATIONAL IN ANY OTHER PUBLICATIONS PERTAINING TO THIS PROJECT.
  • I HAVE DECLARED ALL PROJECT COLLABORATORS AS SET OUT IN THIS FORM.
  • I CONFIRM, I AM AUTHORISED ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANISATION TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL TO STI, MY COMPANY MEETS ALL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS PROPOSAL IS TRUE AND ACCURATE.
  • I HAVE READ AND AGREE TO SAIL TRAINING INTERNATIONAL’S PRIVACY POLICY. www.sailtraininginternational.org/privacy-policy/
By ticking the box below, you are agreeing to each of the above declarations:
Please Tick Here if You Would Like to Be Included in Our Mailing List, This Will Include Receiving Funding News.
Name
Save and Resume Later

Expression of Interest Forms & Full applications for the 2027 Sail Training International Youth Development Fund are now being accepted.

Please note projects must be of a Sail Training nature and take place in 2027. Funding will start in December 2026.
For help completing this form we advise you to read the guidance notes available below.

Guidance Notes

Get in Touch

For further assistance completing your EOI, or if you have any other questions about the funds, please direct enquiries to the following members of the funding team:

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