Learning With a Purpose
Navigation, cooking and sailing bring learning into everyday tasks. Young people can put knowledge into practice and see the results of what they have learned.
Engagement
Fresh Opportunities to Contribute
Looking back at land from a boat can bring a significant shift in perspective — changing how young people see where they come from, their capabilities and the possibilities ahead.
A residential adventure at sea offers opportunities to discover interests, build relationships and contribute to a community. Whether preparing a meal, completing the logbook or helming, everyone has a role and a chance to succeed in unexpected ways.
Being part of a crew where each contribution matters can help young people feel valued. For those who struggle in traditional learning environments, it offers a different setting to recognise their strengths.
Feeling trusted, valued and capable can encourage young people to ask questions, try something unfamiliar and explore opportunities — onboard and beyond.
Excelsior Sailing Trust
21.2%
of pupils have been persistently absent from school since the pandemic
1 in 4
pupils disengage during their first year of secondary school
Belonging Supports Engagement
Poor mental health, unmet additional needs and difficult personal circumstances can create barriers to education and wider opportunities, affecting young people’s attendance, motivation and relationships (20).
Belonging matters. Positive relationships with peers and trusted adults help young people feel supported and willing to participate. Research highlights the significance of a sense of belonging in driving school attendance as well as demonstrating a direct correlation between participation in enrichment activities and school attendance (23).
Yet access to experiences beyond the classroom is uneven, particularly for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds (24).
Sail training offers a different setting. Practical tasks give learning an immediate purpose, while shared experiences help young people build relationships, discover interests and see new possibilities.
“My confidence is soaring! It was like a family where everyone had their own role. It felt like I’d known these people my whole life.”
Participant sailing with the Excelsior Trust
“For some pupils, this voyage was the first time they’d felt truly confident, connected and capable. It gave them the space to shine in ways we wouldn’t see in the classroom.”
Teacher sailing with Ocean Youth Trust North
Engagement in Practice
From learning to steer to volunteering for a shared task, everyday life onboard gives young people opportunities to participate, make progress and discover new possibilities.
Experiencing Success
Learning a new skill or completing an unfamiliar task can help young people recognise their capabilities, particularly when they have struggled to experience success elsewhere.
Building Positive Relationships
Living and working alongside peers and adults creates opportunities to build trust, ask for support and see one another differently, beyond familiar roles and expectations.
Finding a Place
Being part of a crew gives young people a role and a contribution that matters. Shared routines and achievements can help them feel included and more willing to take part.
Discovering New Interests
New experiences and conversations can introduce young people to interests, volunteering opportunities and career pathways they had not previously considered.
Taking the Next Step
With encouragement, young people can reflect on what they have achieved and consider what to try next – whether returning to sailing, participating more at school or exploring further training.
Case Study
More Than a Five-Day Voyage
Ocean Youth Trust Scotland - CashBack for Communities
A voyage forms part of a wider programme of preparation, supported activity and community involvement. Explore how Ocean Youth Trust Scotland helps young people build relationships, recognise their achievements and engage with the opportunities around them.
Impact Review
Explore the Evidence
Our 2026 Impact Review brings together research and stories from member organisations to explore how sail training can support engagement with education and opportunities beyond the classroom.
Theory of Change
How a Voyage Can Make a Difference
Genuine challenge, real responsibility and a shared community create opportunities for personal development. Our Theory of Change explores how the voyage environment, supported by experienced staff and opportunities for reflection, can help young people discover what they can do.
Next Steps
Contact Us
If you commission or fund opportunities for young people, talk to ASTO about supporting engagement with learning and opportunity through the sector.
Taking Part
If you work with young people in a school, college or youth organisation, explore how sail training could complement your provision.
