Tall Ships Youth Trust Launches New Flagship Appeal at St James’s Palace

The Tall Ships Youth Trust, which offers young people, many of whom disadvantaged or disabled, life-changing experiences at sea, launched its New Flagship Appeal at St James’s Palace this week.

The reception event, hosted by The Duke of York – Patron of The Tall Ships Youth Trust, launched the new Appeal to raise funds 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 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 2 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.

“Tonight 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. With a new flagship, we will be able to grow our capacity to reach and empower more and more young people. We need your support today to help us achieve this ambition.”

For more information on the Tall Ships Youth Trust and to find out how to get involved as a donor or fundraiser, visit: https://www.tallships.org/appeal/the-new-flagship-appeal

To help give more young people life-changing experiences, please send donations to Tall Ships Youth Trust, 2A The Hard, PO1 3PT or text TSYT01 £5 to 70070 (the donation will be added to your phone bill) or donate online at tallships.org

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