Charity 'Seas Your Future' are changing young lives today!

The Youth Development Charity Seas Your Future has launched a major fundraising appeal to complete the fitting-out of their second ship, so that over the next 20 years they can offer life-changing voyages of self-discovery to over 20,000 young people.

In April 2022, Seas Your Future sailed the tall ship Fridtjof Nansen into Bristol for a complete redesign. When finished it will more than double the number of young people Seas Your Future can take on their voyages.  Since 2012 the charity has delivered sail training and now, ocean science, to between 400 and 500 young people each year on the tall ship Pelican of London, and the charity want many more to develop the life-skills they offer. Work to the second ship will cost over £1.54 million and the charity needs to raise another £760K to complete this. When finished the charity will own a second purpose-built sail training tall ship for around 1,000 young people each year. 

Adrian Ragbourne, CEO of Seas Your Future, said: “You will be investing in our charity so that we can invest in the lives of many more young people!”

What Seas Your Future does 

Young people from different backgrounds aged between 14 and 25 join on a voyage of self-discovery like no other. They learn from experts in sail training, explore the possibilities of a maritime career, or pursue a passion for ocean science and environmental conservation.  

Whether they are with the charity for 7 days or 6 months, from start to finish it’s all about working with others, watching friendships flourish, and positively shaping their futures. Although an attraction for many, learning to sail in itself is not the essential goal of sail training, and it is not just an opportunity for an adventure. The value and power of sail training is that it is about developing the character of young people, and their resilience, self-confidence, and independence. 

Fourteen-year-old Ben Walker (shown in photo at top) spoke fondly about his time aboard the Pelican: 

“Being on board the Pelican for 5 weeks during the summer has been a very uplifting experience for me. I feel that I have learned a lot, from the sailing to the marine biology lessons. I have also gained confidence by teaching and helping others on board, I now have a greater understanding of other people's abilities and strengths. We all learn at different rates, some people pick it up first time while others need to be shown several times, patience and understanding are key. I am very grateful for the opportunity I was given and will carry it with me as one of my greatest achievements so far. Thank you to all of the crew aboard the Pelican of London and the onshore staff. Thanks to Simon Thorrington who kept in contact with my parents throughout. Fair winds and following seas.”

Why a second Ship? 

Seas Your Future can’t meet the demand for our voyages with Pelican alone, so, in 2021, they decided that they needed a second ship. 

The Fridtjof Nansen will take up to 40 young people plus professional crew on our 7, 10 and 14-day voyages in the Spring and Summer, and up to 45 on the 6 month winter voyage with our partner Ocean College.  The feedback Seas Your Future collects confirms the transformative impact of spending time on board. Those young people who journey with the charity are not only taught new skills, but they discover all about themselves, and what drives their ambitions and interests.  

Many go on to an education and employment in the maritime industry or environmental conservation. In the summer of 2022, during their first full sailing programme since the global pandemic, 16% of the young people indicated strongly that sailing could lead to a career in the maritime sector in response to Seas Your Future’s post-voyage questionnaires.  

Please help Seas Your future to complete the work NOW!  

Seas Your Future are asking for donations to help them complete the work by the summerof 2023. Funding of over £800K has already been raised towards the costs of £1,540K.  

To Donate Now: https://www.seasyourfuture.org/fridtjofnansendonate/