Twenty young people are set to benefit from a residential voyage with Tall Ships Youth Trust (TSYT) – a charity that provides young people with unique and challenging experiences at sea – thanks to funding from Buckinghamshire-based The Clare Foundation.

Two four-night voyages with TSYT have been fully funded by The Clare Foundation. The first voyage for young people aged 12-15 set sail from Portsmouth on Monday (23rd August). The second with youngsters aged 16-25 will leave on Monday 6th September.

The individuals have all been nominated for the residential voyage by five Buckinghamshire-based charities, Action4Youth, Buckinghamshire Mind, Lindengate, The Healthy Living Centre and The Oasis Partnership.

Dan Bicknell from Lindengate said:

This experience will encourage great personal growth for our young people, developing teamwork, communication, self-confidence and other transferable life-skills. Being out in the fresh air, combined with physical activity, will be a huge benefit to their mental health and well-being.

The Clare Foundation, founded by Mike Clare in 2009, works together with these groups and other key local stakeholders, partners, businesses and charitable organisations to facilitate and create positive change in Buckinghamshire.

Mike Clare, Founder and Chairman of the Clare Foundation, said:

I’ve had a long-held belief that providing young people with the opportunity to have adventures, get into the wild/open and meet other young people enables them and gives them a more functional outlook on life. Julie and I are delighted to be working with Tall Ships Youth Trust and charities in Buckinghamshire to make this happen.

The young people will join a professional crew of four sailing staff, who will guide them through their adventure at sea as they sail from Gunwharf Quays Marina in Portsmouth and along the Jurassic Coast.

Onboard one of Tall Ships Youth Trust’s 72ft Challenger yachts, the young people become vital members of the sailing crew as they take on a number of tasks including, hauling ropes, operating the winches and helming. Under supervision, they also prepare and cook all their own meals below deck in the galley kitchen.

During their voyage, the young people write daily blog entries to document their experience and time at sea. You can read them here 👉 Voyager blogs.