The Beginnings
[aS TOLD BY OUR FOUNDER AND SKIPPER!]
About
The story of the humble beginnings of the Adventure Sailing Trust began in the early 1970s. During this time, the idea was born to help the children of Glasgow, living in the areas of multiple deprivation, by offering them the opportunity to experience the more positive challenges of ‘life at sea’. Research and fundraising were started to fund this idea and in 1973 myself and a crew of experienced sailors travelled to Holland to purchase the schooner Raf, which was to become the new 'home' to many groups of children.
The Adventure Sailing Trust Ltd., was founded in 1974 by my wife and myself. During the spring / summer months groups comprising of 8 youngsters and 2 adult group leaders (teachers, police, social workers or youth group leaders), came aboard, initially, for 4 overnight stays to experience and learn the mental and physical well-being benefits of “life at sea”.
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Many of our young crew could not relate to schooling and found the practical learning experience’s offered aboard interesting, meaningful and beneficial. Many skills such as navigation, team work, sailing techniques, weather conditions and making appropriate decisions for the safety of all on board were necessary to live at sea. Their enjoyment of learning of the great outdoors, seeing the wildlife of seals, a variety of birds and sea-life in general, increased their knowledge and opened up their interests and conversations. Throughout these experiences they were learning the responsibility of good behaviour patterns, taking charge and having responsibility and ownership at the helm of such a large vessel. When moored at various lochs and anchorages along the Clyde they enjoyed going ashore with the large inflatable dinghy to various tourist islands and also remote ones. Honesty and trust of others being at the forefront of everything when being on board and ashore.
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Their return to schooling was somewhat amusing, as teachers saw the keenness to learn from youngsters who had not attended for several months. This new attendance of school was also a condition for being able to return as a crew member, to continue to experience a different environment of yachts, boats and a new found freedom.
The continuing success of working with the young people was evident through their enthusiasm and eagerness to return each year to be further trained as crew aboard the schooner ‘Raf’.​
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Equipment and weatherproof clothing were inspected and replacements purchased where needed. Come Spring we relaunched and started initially down river under engine. Our mooring had been checked and maintained by our professional diver, awaiting us to pick it up.
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Christmas 1977, saw us taking the schooner up to the centre of Glasgow, mooring opposite St Andrew’s Cathedral, to add to the festive atmosphere. Raf was dressed overall with coloured lights and sponsors' names displayed between the two 50 foot masts. Also, during this time, we hosted a party at our family home, for the different young crews, who enjoyed themselves greatly with plentiful home-baking being enjoyed.​
Winter activities comprise of indoor sports, music lessons, learning creativity by making things and also baking. Other support is for greatly disadvantaged children whose home life is such that their parents suffer from drugs and alcohol and require their children involved in a stable caring environment, supported by trained leaders / carers to help both children and parents. Such is the complexity of need for so many children to give them the opportunities of an all-round learning programmed that they may in turn, grow up to help others in need.
The Trust support of programmes enables the physical, mental and spiritual qualities to benefit various groups of young people living in multiple deprived areas. The ongoing work of fund raising continues each year to benefit more young people and help meet their wide ranging needs and help activate other voluntary run groups where possible.
" Wishing you all “fair winds”
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Thomas Glen
Adminstrator [1974 - 2021]
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