Established 2005 Registered Charity No. 1110656

Scottish Charity Register No. SC043760

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Cyrenians set sail

September 30 2010
John Scarfe, OYT volunteer, watching Jordan Davies at the helm. © Cyrenians John Scarfe, OYT volunteer, watching Jordan Davies at the helm. © Cyrenians
Nine homeless men and women on a four-day trip around the coast

A group of homeless people have been given the chance to experience the "voyage of a lifetime" with sail training charity Ocean Youth Trust North East (OYT NE).

The organisation teamed up with Newcastle-based charity The Cyrenians to take nine homeless men and women on a four-day trip around the coast, on board the OYT yacht James Cook.

The group was made up of service users from The Cyrenians, an organisation that helps socially-excluded people back into society, teaching them new skills and allowing them to experience life at sea. The trip was also designed to "increase individuals' self-confidence and give them an opportunity to discover their own potential".

Terry, a resident at The Cyrenians, enjoyed his time in the James Cook so much that he has now registered as a volunteer.

"The voyage was an unbelievable experience and I am so pleased I was able to take part," he said. "It is something that I will never forget.

"It was extremely hard work, but there was a huge sense of satisfaction knowing you had done a full day's hard graft."

The charity works with people of all backgrounds - those with sailing experience and those who want to try it for the first time - offering them a chance to learn new skills while building up their self-esteem and confidence as part of a team.

Steve Lennon, general manager of OYT NE, added: "Learning a new skill such as sailing can inspire people to achieve and continue developing their skills.

"Working with The Cyrenians gave us a fantastic opportunity to deliver these opportunities to those members of society who are often passed over. I'm delighted that some of the people who took part in this voyage have decided to continue their journey with us as volunteers."

· Find out more at www.oyt.org.uk

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