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“Young people prepare to set sail with Milford Haven Port
Authority’s ‘Voyage of a Lifetime’ Scheme”
Eight lucky
Pembrokeshire youngsters have become the first ever beneficiaries of
Milford Haven Port Authority’s Voyage of a Lifetime scheme.
Voyage of Lifetime was
set up in autumn 2007 through Milford Haven Port Authority’s Community
Initiative. In partnership with the Tall Ships (Wales) Trust, the Tall
Ships Youth Trust and the Jubilee Sailing Trust, MHPA offered young
people in Pembrokeshire the opportunity to embark upon a life changing
experience.
After making it through an initial sift in applicants, individuals
passed through an interview stage, to gauge their enthusiasm and ability
to embark upon this challenging, but unique opportunity. All of the
applicants have chosen different voyages, with some travelling to Norway
or France and others choosing to stay closer to home. Voyages range from
seven to ten days, with applicants having the opportunity to experience
all aspects of ship life as part of a watch with Tall Ships Youth Trust
or to buddy up with a physically disabled person and help sail a Jubilee
Sailing Trust Vessel.
The final eight
gathered together on the traditional vessel ‘Keewaydin’ in Milford Docks
this month, to meet each other and discuss their upcoming voyages. There
was also the opportunity to find out more about what life is like aboard
a Tall Ship, through discussions with past Voyagers and partner
organisations.
Community Officer
Claire Palmer commented ‘It has been fantastic to bring all of the young
people together. They are all from different backgrounds and different
parts of Pembrokeshire, but they all share a huge enthusiasm for the
experiences they are about to embark upon. They have promised to come
back with stories and photos of their voyages. I hope these will inspire
even more young people to apply for the scheme in the autumn’
Photocaption: MHPA’s
Community Officer Claire Palmer with Jubilee Sailing Trust’s Mike
Mansfield and successful Applicants of the Voyage of a Lifetime Scheme. |
