Cowes-based UKSA has launched its first-ever public appeal for support as it seeks to improve the mental health in youngsters with its life-changing water-based programmes.
As the charity and world-leading maritime training provider reflects on a challenging year for children and young people, it’s seeking funding to help young people whose mental health has been affected by falling below the poverty line, having less time outdoors, school closures and reduced employment prospects.
One 14-year-old whose life has been turned around by one of UKSA’s bespoke programmes is Raphael (Raffy) Stafford from Shankin, who completed the Sea.Change Foundation Programme this summer.
Raffy’s father Mark Stafford said:
“Raffy has always struggled at school and has found classroom based learning difficult. He’s now 14 and hasn’t been able to integrate fully with his peers, which has given him insecurities and a lack of confidence. I know he’s got the ability to achieve something, but he just hasn’t been given the right environment to do so before.”
The Sea.Change Foundation Programme is specifically for 14 to 18-year-olds and gives teenagers the opportunity to learn about training and careers in the maritime sector through a 5-day residential trip in the school holidays. It also offers youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds to build crucial life skills and make new friends.
Raffy said:
“I don’t get on at school and struggle to make friends as I feel nervous and don’t really fit in. Before UKSA, I hadn’t stayed away from my Dad before as no one had ever invited me. It’s only me and my Dad, and I grew up on the Island so have always lived by the sea, but I’d never been sailing. I love the instructors at UKSA, and I learnt so much from them. I can’t focus on learning at school, but the way they teach things is different. It’s the first place where I haven’t just been treated like a kid – they even trusted me to drive a boat! They’re my role models. Now I want to be a watersports instructor when I grow up. I’ve never felt like I had options for the future before.
Article continues below this advertisement “I met kids from all different backgrounds, but we were mates straight away and worked together really well. I finally felt like I belonged somewhere, and I was so excited when I was chosen to go back to UKSA to do work experience. I’m so proud of myself for getting here and no longer feel like a failure. UKSA really has changed my life.”
Ben Willows, CEO of UKSA, comments:
“At UKSA, our programmes offer a positive and enriching experience for young people, not only as positive educational outcomes but also offering the possibility for developing a wider set of skills beyond the qualifications obtained from school. Our aim is to reach 500 young people per year on the Sea.Change programme, but we are seeking support to realise our goal of making an impact on the lives of over 13,000 youngsters.
“So many children and young people were already missing out on life-changing opportunities because schools, local authorities and parents simply couldn’t afford to pay for them, and the pandemic has unfortunately only exacerbated this situation. Now, more than ever, programmes like the Sea.Change Foundation which help to prepare young people for the workplace are vital and we hope this Christmas we’re able to find some new supporters to help us continue to make a difference.”
UKSA aims to continue to grow its outdoor learning opportunities for children and young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. For more information and to donate towards its important work, you can visit its website at www.uksa.org/christmas.
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