Mentoring to the open sea.
Five-day residential exploration voyages that take young people out of their everyday environment and onto the water — building teamwork, resilience and self-belief, far from the pressures of home.
Young people from every area we serve
Across the two voyages, twenty young people joined the crew — drawn from the different communities Youth Unity supports. For many, it was their first time on a boat, by the sea, or away from home and technology for any length of time.
Five days, fully crewed by young people
A five-day residential voyage where the crew took part in every aspect of life aboard — from hoisting sails and navigating to cooking, cleaning and running the daily routines of the ship.
Personal development at the heart of every voyage
- Learning new skills and pushing boundaries
- Self-esteem, confidence and aspirations
- Decision making and problem solving
- Teamwork and leadership
- Communication and life skills
- Resilience and knowledge
- Real time spent away from technology
- For many — sea swimming and a beach for the very first time
Voices from the voyage
I've learned that even when you're in a troubling situation, you should always remember there are people with you to help you cope — people to smile with and have fun with.
Mwbana, 16 — voyage crewMy voyage highlights include making new friends and learning more skills.
Caleb, 14 — voyage crewThis has meant so much to the young people we support — ordinarily they don't get access to opportunities like this. I really hope it will be life changing and a special memory for them.
Shirley Jackson — Managing Director, Youth UnityIt was abundantly clear that the experience fostered teamwork, leadership and personal growth in a challenging yet supportive environment. Many experienced sea swimming and a beach for the first time.
Dean Wasche — Global Head of People Development, OSRLThe impact, in the families' own words
Feedback gathered from parents and carers after the voyage.
- More independence
- Improved communication
- Greater confidence and motivation
- More willing to try new things
- Better resilience in coping with challenges
This has been a wonderful opportunity for Ella, who struggled with social skills and communication. She can't stop talking about what a great time she had and how well she got on with everyone — things that will stay with her forever. She'd never have been able to do this if it hadn't been for Unity and Tall Ships.
— A parentSome came back to lead the next crew.
The voyages don't end when the boat returns to Portsmouth. Several young people from both trips have been invited back as volunteer skippers — stepping up to support and lead the next group, with real opportunities for further training and career development on the water. What began as a five-day adventure is becoming a genuine pathway.
Follow the voyages
Mentoring to the open sea
How the voyage takes mentoring out of the classroom and onto the water.
Tall Ships sailing
Life aboard — the crew, the skills and the journey.
Moments from the water
Photos from the Youth Unity Tall Ships voyages. Published with appropriate consent for the young people shown.