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Tall Ships Youth Trust’s Flagship Appeal Sets Sail After Royal Seal of Approval

The Tall Ships Youth Trust, which offers young people life changing experiences at sea, has raised half a million pounds just a fortnight on from the launch of its New Flagship Appeal at St James’s Palace.

Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, and Patron of The Tall Ships Youth Trust, launched the new appeal at a Palace reception on 8 October. The charity hopes the fundraiser will raise £5 million for the purchase of a new flagship vessel, akin to the Schooners the Trust owned 60 years ago.

The Tall Ships Youth Trust is the UK’s oldest and largest sail training charity supporting more than 1,200 young people each year. Beneficiaries face challenges including learning difficulties, hearing or visual impairments or behavioural, emotional and social difficulties. It also enables young carers, youth offending units and other individuals not in employment, education or training to benefit from the experience of life on ocean going vessels.

The Trust’s current fleet includes four Challenger Yachts, a Catamaran and a Ketch which all provide a safe, physically and mentally challenging setting for people of all ages and abilities. In total, it is estimated that the Trust has helped 117,000 beneficiaries and sailed more than two million nautical miles, enough to go around the world nearly one hundred times.

It is hoped the purchase of the new vessel will enable the Trust to change the lives of thousands more young people by more than doubling the capacity they can take on the life changing voyages each year.

Speaking at the launch, The Duke of York said; “Tall Ships gives young people the opportunity of a fast, crash course in understanding not only their own limitations but also the limitations of others around them so that they can manage themselves as a team. Once they’re in that environment, leadership develops almost of its own accord.

“This is about getting the message out that the Tall Ships Youth Trust is here, it’s moving forward, and creating opportunities for a whole generation of young people.”

Richard Leaman-Grey, CEO at the Tall Ships Youth Trust, said: “We feel privileged to have The Duke of York on board to support the launch of our appeal. There are nearly 3.7 million young people living in poverty in the UK and 800,000 who are not in education, employment or training. If we fail to fight their corner, yet another generation of disadvantaged and disabled young people will find themselves adrift, with no prospect of fulfilling their true potential in life.

“We play a crucial role in giving these youngsters the right support to believe in themselves, to get jobs and lead fulfilled lives. It’s amazing how much we’ve raised in such a short period of time, but there’s a long way to go secure a flagship for a new generation. It will enable us to grow our capacity to reach and empower more and more young people. We need your support today to help us achieve this ambition.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tall Ships Youth Trust .