Youngsters’ lives can be plain sailing
A LEADING education expert believes young people across Northumberland can benefit from learning to sail - after completing a landmark project on developing character strengths with the sport’s national governing body, the Royal Yachting Association.
Professor Bill Lucas, Director of the Centre for Real-World Learning and Professor of Learning at the University of Winchester, combined academic findings on the role character has to play in shaping young people’s life chances with research into skills developed through sailing.
He concluded sailing nurtures seven key strengths - creativity, confidence, teamwork, communication, determination, independence and performance.
The project was undertaken as part of the RYA’s re-launch of its youth grassroots programme OnBoard, which provides low-cost on-water opportunities for local school and youth groups so more youngsters aged eight to 18 can learn to sail.
Lucas added: “All the evidence says for a young person to flourish in the 21st century the character attributes they need are on that list of seven.
“It is no longer a question whether these things are important. it is now all about how you do it.
“Sailing can provide an answer to that ‘how’ while also providing all the other benefits sailing brings like having fun with friends and family, being active and getting outdoors.”
Amble’s Coquet Shorebase Trust is one local sailing club which runs the RYA OnBoard programme.
The Trust has 15 juniors out on the water every week during the summer and also works with local schools.
It believes Professor Lucas’ endorsement will show more local parents, teachers and youth workers sailing can make a real difference to a youngster’s prospects.
Vic Brown, Manager of the Trust said: “Our organisation has always had a strong educational element as we were originally the school’s nautical studies base, which was founded in 1951
“Over the years we have seen many of our young people gain in confidence and go on to a wide range of careers and vocational activities they would not otherwise have considered.”