Plain sailing for young Cork people learning valuable life skills through innovative partnership

MEMBERS of three Cork youth groups have been learning valuable life skills through an innovative partnership that has seen them take to the high seas.

The Youth Day Sailing Programme, set up by Sailing into Wellness and sponsored by the Port of Cork Company, saw 16 young people from Cork Life Centre, West View Project, and Aspect Autism Support Service participate in the initiative over the last number of weeks, developing vital and transferable skills.

The programme takes place over 12 days, with each participant getting the chance to spend four days learning from the Sailing into Wellness instructors, over a four-week period.

Empower

Sailing into Wellness, established in 2017, aims to empower participants and help them to develop skills ranging from problem solving and decision making to communication and rapport-building through the hands-on medium of sailing.

The initiative was born from the benefits and therapeutic nature of the open sea and was initially aimed at those recovering from addiction and mental health challenges.

“Our Youth Day Sailing Programme allows us to share these invaluable experiences with the next generation and support from Port of Cork has helped us to reach those who would not normally have access to activities like this,” said Sailing into Wellness co-founder James Lyons.

“The participants from these youth groups have already faced many challenges in their lives and we hope that the programme will help them develop skills to continue overcoming these challenges and show just how capable they are.

“We are incredibly grateful to those at the Port of Cork for joining us in inspiring a new generation of potential sailors and seafarers in Cork.”

Port of Cork chief commercial officer Conor Mowlds said: “It has been inspiring to hear how much the participants have enjoyed being out on the water, learning basic sailing skills, personal development skills, and growing in confidence.”