Youth charities attend UK Sail Training Conference

More than 100 people attended this year’s UK Sail Training Conference, which took place on 1 March at Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard. The event was organised by Gosport-based charity, the Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO), and aims to help young and disabled people develop key life skills such as self-confidence, resilience, motivation, and teamwork.

The attendees at this year’s conference comprised shore-based staff, sea staff, and volunteers from more than 30 different Sail Training organisations. ASTO’s annual conference is an opportunity for sail trainers from all over the UK to come together and share knowledge, expertise, and their experiences from the past year.

This year, the UK Sail Training Conference was hosted at a new location – Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard – with the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust (PNBPT) helping to organise the event.

Hannah Prowse, CEO of the Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust, says: “We were delighted to host the UK Sail Training Conference here in the Historic Dockyard. We are passionate about supporting the work of other charities – especially those whose goals align so closely with our own. Like ASTO, we believe in the transformative power of the sea and shared experience to bring people closer together and to teach valuable skills.”

The opening plenary saw keynote speeches from the RYA’s chief executive, Sara Sutcliffe, and CEO of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Brian Johnson. This was followed by this year’s MCA/ASTO awards ceremony, with the Sail Training Vessel of the Year award being presented to Cirdan Trust’s Faramir. Sea-Change Sailing Trust‘s Oliver Evans took home the trophy for Best Potential Future Sail Training Skipper.

In addition to the annual MCA/ASTO awards, three additional accolades were presented for the first time at the conference’s closing plenary:

• Environmental Excellence Award, sponsored by Tanki: Blue Mermaid, Sea-Change Sailing Trust
• Best Shore-based Staff (Unsung Hero Award): Jane Pocock, The Island Trust
• Social Media Star Award: Ocean Youth Trust South (@OYTSouth)

The event also included a number of informative sessions on a range of topics including mental health awareness, inclusion and diversity, and safeguarding young people. Conference goers were also treated to a special talk by the PNBPT about the history of the dockyards and the iconic vessels that are on display.

ASTO’s chair, Mark Todd, says: “It was fantastic to see the UK Sail Training industry gathering after two seasons which were so badly affected by covid, and to find that every single member organisation has come through the pandemic and is looking forward to the coming sailing season.”

Todd adds: “There is so much evidence about the impact of covid on the education, mental health, wellbeing and prospects of young people, and the need for positive activities promoting confidence, teamworking, communication, friendship and more. Sail Training stands ready to offer opportunities to young people who need our work more than ever.”

All images courtesy of Max Mudie, UK Sail Training.