Ten young people, five days, one life-changing voyage…
On Monday 29th May, ten young people from Millennium Centre Youth, Stranraer, set sail on a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
For many of these young people, stepping aboard vessel Alba Venturer was their first time at sea, but they didn’t let that scare them.
The group undertook all aspects of sailing during their five-day voyage, from steering at the helm to rope, sail and navigation work. Performing these tasks allowed the young people to develop key communication skills, resilience and leadership qualities.
“The voyage has been life changing for our young people and we will be forever grateful to the staff and volunteers for all their support throughout,” said Debbie Muir, Youth Programme Development Officer.
“The group have gained so much more confidence through the voyage, trying new foods, developing life skills whist learning to cook and clean and, in the young people’s own words, ‘putting themselves out there more to try new things’.”
Whilst sailing a total of 100 miles, from Greenock to Rothesay, Lochranza, East Loch Tarbet and Rhu, the young people also worked towards accredited qualifications in areas such as SQA Numeracy, SQA Communication and RYA Start Yachting.
These achievements were facilitated by on-shore youth work sessions in effective communication, healthy relationship workshops and more, delivered by Ocean Youth Trust Scotland’s Youth Development Worker.
This voyage was part of OYT Scotland’s On Board for Success project, funded by the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities scheme. This project will see the funds recovered from crime redirected into youth work, with OYT Scotland supporting a minimum of 248 young people from across Scotland over a three-year period.