Global sailing charity, the Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST) has partnered with a military preparation college dedicated to offering life skills and experience opportunities to young people – and change their lives through military fitness and vocational training.
The Motivational Preparation College for Training (MPCT) aims to inspire young people through training and education in three different divisions – Military Preparation School, Military Preparation College and its Sports & Exercise College.
Through its partnership with the JST, a charity with social inclusivity at its heart, regardless of background or physical ability, six students from MPCT will get the opportunity to crew the charity’s tall ship SV Tenacious over the course of two voyages.
Voyage one will see the students sail from Portsmouth to Dartmouth over eight days between 28th August and 4th September 2021. The follow up voyage will be from Jersey to London over nine days from 13th – 21st September 2021.
Whilst on board, the students will gain an unforgettable sailing experience. Each person will be given real responsibilities to help run the ship day to day from cleaning and maintenance to assistance with navigation. They will also learn to tackle tough challenges, changing weather conditions and a stretch of several days away from home, friends and family. But, what the JST offers in return is a true sense of camaraderie and belonging, as well as an individual’s true sense of belonging.
JST CEO Patrick Fleming said he was delighted to be able to offer the opportunity and that all six places would be funded by the JST. He added: “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.”
Huw Lewis MBE, CEO of MPCT, said: “I am absolutely delighted that our young people would be afforded the wonderful transformational experience the JST has to offer.
“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.”
The charity offers people of all abilities the opportunity to climb aboard their tall ship Tenacious for an immersive sailing experience and relies on funding from the public. Since its founding in 1978 the Jubilee Sailing Trust has welcomed more than 50,000 people on board.