Call for Ballymena Tall Ships 2016 Applications

Following the incredibly successful Tall Ships Belfast the Trust is launching its subsidised voyage opportunities for 2016 that are open to young people in Ballymena and across Northern Ireland.

Over 30 places are available to candidates between the ages of 15 and 28; no prior sailing experience is required. The shortest are 5-day voyages and the most exciting will see groups of youths sail stunning tall ships around Europe to cities such as Lisbon and Antwerp.

The wide range of activities on board from cooking and cleaning, to steering the ship will see participants learn important interpersonal skills. The local voyages will have 10 participants on each trip, half from Northern Ireland and half from the Republic. The longer international voyages will have participants from over six countries on board.

Thanks to EU and local funders including the Loughs Agency, Belfast Harbour, and K-Rend all voyages are heavily subsidised.

The Atlantic Youth Trust and their plan to build a tall ship to provide youth development and cultural integration opportunities for youths in Northern and the Republic of Ireland were recently included in the ‘A Fresh Start: Stormont Agreement’. This was a major breakthrough in what has been a four-year project to create “the best youth development maritime organisation in the world”.

Anyone interested in taking part is advised to contact the Trust by the 5 February. Applications can also be made by youth groups looking to put forward candidates. Visit www.atlanticyouthtrust.org for more information.