Blue Spirit takes to the waves
Read complete newsletter with images here
Your generous support – and the hard work of Sail Boat Project and ESTEEM – have enabled two groups of young people to experience Blue Spirit-funded sailing trips.
The first trip was a two-day sail including, a night on the boat, that took place on 11-12th August with three young people; and the second – again with three youngsters on board – was a ‘taster’ sail on 18th September.
Both trips were organised through ESTEEM, a youth charity that offers social, wellbeing, volunteering, and mentoring opportunities to young adults, across Sussex. Unfortunately, a third 2-day sail with ESTEEM had to be postponed due to a positive COVID test, but this is just a temporary setback! The trip will be rescheduled in the Spring.
Feedback from participants, facilitators and crew has been overwhelmingly positive and heart-warming. One participant, a young refugee originally from Eritrea, told Sail Boat Project that going out on Jalapeño had changed his attitude to the sea.
Thanks to Sail Boat Project and skippers Jacquie and James. We hope these trips are the first of many Blue Spirit trips in memory of our beautiful Laury
Here's what some of the young people said ...
“First of all, thank you very much, we appreciate it greatly – and thanks to James our captain and skipper. We learnt a lot of things. We had a nice experience and we changed our mindset from negativity and stress to a positive way. We had a good day and have learnt in life we have to move on sometimes from what has happened and that sometimes things happen for a reason.”
– Mo
“The sailing trip was a great new experience for me. There’s something about being on the water that’s really relaxing and peaceful. It was an amazing way to let off a lot of stress. Getting out on the water is something I would like to start doing consistently.” – Dan.
“I found the trip really interesting because I’ve never actually sailed before. To learn the different names for things and learn all about the boat was very interesting as well. I got to actually sail the boat for a couple of minutes, and it was just amazing really.” – Jackson.
