Giving disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people aged 9-14 to try out watersports, have fun and boost their confidence – this is the aim of Sea Cadets’ summer outreach programme, On The Water.
Running from 24 July-25 August in Birmingham and London, hundreds of young people will enjoy water-based activities free of charge and learn valuable life skills through sailing, kayaking, windsurfing and canoeing.
Participants include children in care, disabled young people, children from low-income households and young carers. For many of them, it will be the first time they have ever experienced something like this.
“Sea Cadets is all about giving young people skills, confidence and the chance to make new friends through nautical adventure and fun,” says Head of Outreach at Sea Cadets, Hugo Dell. “It’s only right to provide these same opportunities to children and young people who would benefit most but, because of finances or other difficulties, have never had the chance.”
AAA (Ambition Aspire Achieve) Zone are one of the groups who took part last year and will be at London’s Royal Docks to take part in the programme again this year. The charity provides opportunities for young people most in need living in the London Borough of Newham.
“The young people we work with have the opportunity to experience being on the water thanks to the Sea Cadets summer outreach programme,” says Ann Sparrowhawk, AAA Zone’s Project Coordinator. “Trying out watersports such as sailing and kayaking has a really positive impact on the young people’s physical, mental and social development.”
Sea Cadets have been running the popular On The Water event since 2019. The programme has got a big thumbs up from the children who have taken part, who described their experience as “awesome”, “exciting” and “lots of fun”.
“I could not afford to take my child to do activities like this in the holidays so I am very grateful to Sea Cadets for giving my children this opportunity,” one of the participant’s parents said.
Another parent said: “My son has autism…I am so thankful to Sea Cadets for giving my child this opportunity and I still can’t believe he’s done it. Seeing the pictures of him sailing made me so proud.”
