Sail Training Shetland scoops international award

The annual conference took place in Dunkirk, France on 17 and 18 November bringing together an international audience of Tall Ships individuals, operators and ports, for a series of workshops, discussions and presentations, with the awards ceremony taking place on the final night.

Sail Training Shetland was recognised as a unique charity in the tall ships’ community that works to raise funds, promote, recruit, mentor and provide logistical support for arranging trainees’ placements. Our committee is run entirely by volunteers including former sail trainees, who take care of every step of the experience starting from when the young person applies, to generating an itinerary and ship bookings, right through to evaluating the impacts when they return home.

This year, we raised funding to make it possible for 100 young people to take part in The Tall Ships Races, across eight different ships including 20 placed on Shetland’s iconic tall ship Swan and has supported over 500 since 2009.

Chair Melanie Henderson said: “We are very honoured to receive this award recognising our volunteer committee’s achievements in supporting The Tall Ships Races. It is important for the charity to be part of this incredible community, offering life-changing experiences to young people. The positive impacts of their individual sail training experiences will be seen throughout their lives.

"Because it was such a special year hosting the Tall Ships Races at Lerwick, we were able to remove any barriers to participate by offering these experiences fully funded, thanks to our generous sponsors and partners both in Shetland and the northeast of Scotland."

The good work of the charity will carry on in providing annual schemes, supporting local sail training vessel Swan and sending young people to experience the Tall Ships Races, with applications for new placements being invited in Spring 2024.