Portsmouth News

Seafaring tall ship trips joy for students

Military hopefuls to set sail on two separate voyages thanks to partners

- By TOM COTTERILL Defence correspond­ent tom.cotterill@thenews.co.uk

YOUNG people aspiring to join the military are being given the chance to join an adventure of a lifetime.

Global sailing charity, the Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST) has partnered with the Motivation­al Preparatio­n College for Training to offer six students the chance to sail on its tall ship, SV Tenacious.

The adventure will take place over the course of two voyages, with the first eight-day trip departing from Portsmouth to Dartmouth on August 28.

The follow-up voyage will be from Jersey to London over nine days from September 13.

While on board, students will be taught a host of seafaring skills and will learn how to tackle challengin­g weather conditions while at sea.

Patrick Fleming, chief executive of JST, said: ‘The JST’s vision is about offering equal opportunit­ies to all through sailing experience­s on board Tenacious. She’s the only tall ship in the world to be designed, built and sailed by a mixed ability crew – which means she is fully accessible and can be crewed regardless of physical ability or experience on the water.’

‘We’ve seen groups of young people change through their experience­s and given them valuable life skills which they then use to progress their goals, whether that is in confidence, or developing leadership ability. The partnershi­p with the MPCT is perfect for us as we share that vision of inclusion and encouragem­ent.’

The MPCT has a college based in Hilsea. But there are also others as part of the organisati­on dotted across the country.

Huw Lewis, chief executive of college organisati­on, was delighted by the partnershi­p and added: ‘Many of the young people who enrol on MPCT programmes have not had a positive experience during their time in compulsory education, which then presents a lack of self-esteem and confidence to fully engage in educationa­l programmes. Without considerab­le support through organisati­ons like the JST, these students would fail to achieve their individual goals.

‘I firmly believe that our mutual desire to support young people to become better citizens will only improve through this collaborat­ion.’

Visit: https://jst.org.uk/

 ??  ?? Chance for six students to sail on tall ship SV Tenacious
Chance for six students to sail on tall ship SV Tenacious

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