YOUTH LEADERSHIP SCHEME

Youth Leadership on the T S Pelican

The Sail Training Ship T S Pelican of London is privately owned and offers a unique opportunity for young people to acquire new skills aboard a traditional sailing ship. The T S Pelican takes youth development to a completely new dimension bringing young people from all walks of life together to meet the challenging and ever-changing elements of the sea.

The Youth Leadership Scheme is about personal development with enjoyment. Trainees must learn to work together in an isolated, unfamiliar and adventure-based environment onboard the ship and also on the sea. It is not about teaching young people how to sail ships. Rather, it is about providing trainees with opportunities to learn about themselves and positive interaction with others through their onboard experiences.

A voyage on T S Pelican, not only develops personal skills, but also enhances a young person's social skills, their sense of responsibility, both in the community and also the team in which they are placed. Often young people learn the real meaning of teamwork and companionship as there cannot be any individuals on a sailing ship, only a team who works in unity. As they become accustomed to the challenges and to each other, individuals go from saying "I can't do that," to believing that "Together, we can".

Professional Training and Crew

T S Pelican operates to a high level of seamanship and safety, meeting the stringent requirements of the UK's Maritime Coastguard Agency. The ship has a highly trained and proficient Permanent Crew including the Captain, 1st and 2nd Mate, Ship's Cook, Engineer and Bosun. These are supported by a Bosun's Mate and three Deckhands who form the Junior and Volunteer Crew.

Each crew member is competent and skilled in their tasks. This is of vital importance to the success of the T S Pelican's Youth Leadership Scheme.

Voyage Crew

T S Pelican can accomodate up to 28 Voyage Crew in 4 Berth En-Suite accommodation. This provides comfortable living conditions meeting modern needs and sail training traditions. Raising the funds to get onboard is part of the sail training experience and challenge of the Youth Leadership Scheme and the Trust encourages and offers assistance to the voyage crew. There are additional bursaries available for those who show effort to raise the funds towards their voyage fee.

T S Pelican's Permanent Crew and Adventure Under Sail Ltd are committed to supporting and guiding young people through the Scheme.

Facing the Challenges

Key Learning elements for each voyage crew include:

• working through challenging situations, and

• developing the knowledge and skills to communicate, negotiate and understand their own expectations and achievements and those of others in a team environment.

• tasks required to run the ship and the learning that takes place are at the core of the Scheme.

Experiential Learning

The T S Pelican Youth Leadership Scheme is about each participant being directly involved in the running of the ship. Learning activities require personal motivation and responsibility with an important period for reflection on outcomes and achievements.

The ship environment introduces interesting and challenging dynamics with small teams acting on behalf of others under the direction of the Captain and Officers.

Importantly, the program relies on challenge by choice with participants having the right to decline involvement in an activity if they feel personally uncomfortable.

As participants grow in confidence, they find themselves taking on activities they previously found challenging, such as climbing the rigging.

During the voyage teams will be given challenges and tasks to encourage team work and problem solving skills.

Accredited courses and awards

During a 7-day voyage, youth participants can gain accreditation in the following areas:

• RYA Watch Leaders Course (Practical);

• RYA Yachting Competent Crew Course (Practical);

• RYA Basic Navigation Theory or RYA Day Skipper Theory;

• Vocational and Educational Credits

Personal Assessment and Report

Upon completion of the voyage each young person will be encouraged to make an assessment of the learning and achievements of the voyage and will receive a voyage report from the Captain and Training Officer for future use or for their sponsors.

Evaluation and Funding

Quality assurance measures are in place to evaluate each voyage and to contribute to the ongoing value of youth development. Adventure Under Sail Ltd is a not-for-profit organisation relying on sponsors and supporters to assist in the funding of the T S Pelican Youth Leadership Scheme. It welcomes the support of other organisations to assist in the running of its valued youth development voyages.