Ocean Youth Trust in fund-raiser
- Mon, 8 Mar 2010
- Comments (3)
Ocean Youth Trust North East (OYT NE) is aiming to raise £475,000 over the next three years to increase the number of young people they help to almost double the current amount - from around 400 to 700. The Trust will also be putting in place new programmes to encourage individual development and teach valuable leadership skills.
Priority will be given to developing the OYT NE Young Leader Scheme which will give participants the opportunity to develop their skills in what is often their first position of responsibility. Those enrolled will also be able to work towards formal and nationally recognised qualifications which can enhance future prospects.
One person who has been trained through the Trust is skipper Grace Metcalfe, 24 from Cumbria. Grace joined Ocean Youth Trust as a crew member at the age of 17. She was given more responsibility until, in 2006, she was made first mate aboard the James Cook and two-and-a-half years later she became skipper.
Grace said: "The training I received through Ocean Youth Trust has made such a huge impact on my life. It's helped me to get a job that I really enjoy, that gets me excited when I get out of bed in the morning. I have been lucky enough to see some fantastic places and meet some brilliant people. The kids that come on voyages are always good fun and the atmosphere onboard is really friendly.
"This funding can have a huge impact on the lives of those young people who really get excited by sailing. It could help on the way to a new career, or give them a fun and different skill which stands out on a CV. Some of the training, like the First Aid courses we run, are really useful qualifications to have whatever you go on to do. It really could make all the difference to someone who isn't sure of their options."
Steve Lennon, the general manager of OYT NE, added: "At the Trust we work hard to provide activities to young people which will boost their sense of personal achievement and teach practical skills which are useful in many different situations. However we are eager to do even more to ensure that more young people in the region can take advantage of the opportunities we provide.
"This funding will help us in a number of ways, for example to reach a wider variety of people and provide specialised equipment for voyages with disabled youngsters. It's a very exciting chance for us to make a positive impact on the lives of young people in the North East who have an interest in travel and sailing."
OYT NE is based in North Shields and provides young people from all backgrounds with a chance to develop and learn new skills. The charity works with people aged 12-25 and uses its sail training programmes to build confidence and self-esteem, teach teamwork skills and offers an opportunity to try something new and different.
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Latest comments
March 09 12:11
Dot Webb
It is really pleasing to hear of a group using the challenges of the great blue yonder to give young people a sense of purpose and achievement in their lives.
March 10 16:52
Clare Thorpe
Hi, its fantastic that the Ocean Youth Trust is getting some well needed publicity for the work that they do. Good article. That picture however, is not of James Cook but of Clare Thorpe (helm) and Emma Clifton (winch) on a Sigma 38 during a trip with 'the captains daughters'. I'm not sure how you got hold of it? It is not completly unrelated to the article. The Captains Daughters are a spin off from the Ocean Youth Trust, a club to help young female sea staff (and some guys too) to take charge, develop their skills and practice for their RYA qualifications on small boats. The picture is of a race in the solent in 2007 when we started the race in dresses over our oilskins. Members of 'the captains daughters' volunteer for many of sail training organisations around the country and it just so happens that both the girls in the photo you have used have, at some point, been volunteers for OYT-NE. This is not a criticism of the article. The captains daughters was founded to run along-side sail training charities however i feel if you use our pictures we should have some recognition.
March 10 17:27
J Howard-Vyse
Brilliant to hear that the work of the Ocean Youth Club is still going strong in this its 50th year. The Club's successors, the four remaining Trusts, celebrate their 10th anniversary this year. Best wishes to them all!