Sail training charity inspires disabled youngsters

A group of young people with physical and communication needs have learnt that their disabilities are no barrier to achievement, thanks to a North East sail training charity.

Five young people from Woodlawn School, Whitley Bay, were given the opportunity to take part in a sailing expedition that they never thought possible thanks to the charity Ocean Youth Trust North East (OYT NE).

The young people, who are aged between 14 and 16-years-old, were taught sailing skills by the OYT NE crew over a four day trip around the North East coast. By the end of the trip they were all more confident and able sailors.

All the youngsters suffer from social and physical disabilities to some degree. Despite this, Ian Saunders, a teacher at Woodlawn School, said that taking the young people out on the water was a fantastic opportunity for them to experience life outside of their comfort zone.

He said: “The group have very diverse needs and can find communication and social interaction difficult. However onboard they simply had to learn how to cope with others and develop their social skills.

“It was such a brilliant chance to challenge them to learn new skills and they really made the most of it. They all had to accept responsibility for certain duties, look after their own belongings and interact with adults, which were completely new situations for all of them. By the end of the four days they were much more self-assured and working together as a team.

“The OYT NE team was absolutely fantastic. They were really helpful and patient with the group and they taught them so much – a lot more than simply sailing knowledge. We’re looking forward to getting another group onboard James Cook as soon as we can.”

Steve Lennon, General Manager of OYT NE, added: “OYT NE is not just about teaching young people how to sail. It is about helping them to learn their own potential and to develop important life skills which can take them wherever they want to go. This is especially important for young people who may be at a disadvantage, as they may have lower self-confidence.

“Our staff are trained to help reinforce our students self-belief whilst challenging them to do more than they thought they were able to. It is fantastic that Woodlawn School has seen such excellent results from their trip, as these are exactly the kind of changes we hope to inspire in our groups. We look forward to continuing to provide many more young people, with and without additional needs, similarly inspiring experiences.”

OYT NE specialises in the personal development of young people through Adventure under Sail on their purpose built vessel James Cook. They work with young people between the ages of 12 to 25 helping them to become part of a real team. The young people develop their life skills by using their sailing experience as a tool. It can build up their self esteem and develop their awareness of the needs of others. Most activities onboard James Cook can be cross-referenced to the National Curriculum.

If you are interested in learning more about Ocean Youth Trust North East please visit www.sailjamescook.com . If you would like to book a sailing trip or request further information please email