Posted on: 19 July 2024
Since 2012, The Seafarers’ Charity has funded bursaries to support the training of the next generation of professional yacht crew . This support is set to be enhanced thanks to a recent donation from the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, the UK charitable foundation founded by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou.
To date, 67 young people aged 18 to 25 years have been supported by The Seafarers’ Charity to train at UK Sailing Academy (UKSA) to obtain an Officer of the Watch qualification in the professional yacht sector.
A generous donation of £30,000 from the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, will add an additional six bursaries to the funding support available for young people with a seafaring background who would otherwise be unable to afford to complete UKSA’s Superyacht Cadetship Course and pursue a career onboard a professional yacht.
The Superyacht Cadetship Course develops cadets into officers and combines academic study, practical paid work, and experience on-board to develop essential skills, qualifications and a broad understanding of the industry students will work in when qualified. This unique approach enables graduates to enter the maritime industry fully prepared and to begin a fulfilling and long-term career in the professional yacht sector.
Finlay Bell is one of the funded UKSA Cadetship graduates and he explained what the support has meant to him: ‘The funding has helped me out massively. An indescribable amount. I simply would not have been able to afford to take part in the course. I cannot thank my sponsors enough for all the funding they have provided me with. I am forever thankful and if fortunate enough, I will be paying it forward.’
‘My long-term aspiration is to work my way up the ranks in the yachting industry enjoying my time as I climb. I believe and aspire to be a superyacht captain. I think it will be an amazing job and with enough hard work I believe I will get there.’
Ben Willows, CEO at UKSA said: ‘Our passion for removing barriers and providing funding for young people who wouldn’t be able to access such experiences without financial support drives us every day, and we can only continue to transform the lives of so many young people with the ongoing help of our donors and supporters. The Seafarers’ Charity’s support, combined with the generous donation from the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation is invaluable and enables young people to embark upon our superyacht cadetship training.’
