Students and staff at Lipson Co-operative Academy, part of the Ted Wragg Trust, are celebrating as two pupils who left the school last summer have secured a place on the Stad Amsterdam sailing from Brisbane to Bali in August this year on the Clipper World Tour.

Lucy Lewis and Abi Thorn will be taking part in the all expenses paid trip made possible by the charity Seas Your Future. The school co-ordinated their applications to take part in the trip and they had to supply a personal statement about why they wanted to go on the voyage, an explanation of a challenge or difficulty they have faced, and how they overcame it, a CV and references.  

Not only were Lucy and Abi successful, but a current Year 13 student, Eli Butler will also be offered a place on another voyage on the Pelican of London this summer.

Seas Your Future (SYF) is the operating name of Adventure Under Sail (AUS), which was formed in 2008 initially as a small charity managing funds to provide bursaries for young people undertaking sail related activities, and in 2012 took ownership of the tall ship Pelican of London. 

Its principle strategic aims are to educate young people, through the provision of sailing or sailing related activities and other training and so as to develop their physical, mental, and social capabilities so that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society and their conditions of life may be improved.

The charity operates the ships primarily as sail training vessels for young people, in the northern hemisphere during the spring and summer months mainly around the UK and Europe, and during the autumn and winter months on a six-month transatlantic educational voyage. 

They provide sailing experience and an alternative form of learning for all young people, encouraging equality, inclusiveness, and passion, through adventure and challenge. Their programmes promote personal growth through Sail Training, Maritime Career options and offer hands-on Ocean Science and environmental conservation activities. 

Mr Martin Brook, Headteacher at Lipson Co-operative Academy said:

“I am over the moon for the young people that will get to take part in these life changing voyages.  I wish them all the very best for their adventure and am just delighted that Lipson could help them to succeed when it came to co-ordinating and supporting them with the application process.” 

Moira Marder, CEO of the Ted Wragg Trust said:

“Everyone at the trust is so excited for Lucy, Abi and Eli and so proud that staff at Lipson helped them to secure these fantastic opportunities.  Not only does Plymouth have a rich marine heritage, but also a lot of the local jobs of the future will be in this sector, so not only do these young people get a once in a lifetime trip, they also get to learn valuable skills that could help them in the future.”