'Chance Of A Lifetime Voyage - 2 IN 2002'
In 1998 Merseyside Police on The Wirral formed a partnership with the Deeside branch of the Sail Training Association (STA) a registered charity for young people and chartered a Tall Ship, The S.T.S. Malcolm Miller a 300 ton three masted topsail schooner.
S.T.S. Malcolm Miller set sail from Dublin on 24th August, 1998 with 36 of Wirral's young people on board. It arrived in Birkenhead the 4th September, 1998. And that as they say was just the start. After much hard work by all involved, 2000 and 2001 saw further voyages for the deserving youngsters of Wirral.
Following in the footsteps of those previous successful trips there will be a 2 ships running during August/September, 2002 for a larger group of 90 of Wirral's deserving young people aged 16 to 24 years.
Stavros S. Niarchos....
The aim of the project is to promote good relationships between the police and deserving young people of Wirral by helping them to learn about themselves, their capabilities and awareness of others in a demanding voyage in a traditional sailing ship, together with developing links with companies and organisations based on the Wirral.
The voyages are NOT a holiday - they are designed as an outlet for a spirit of adventure, for 78 young people, aged 16 to 24 years, who perhaps having been brought up in difficult circumstances and have maintained a level of good citizenship without getting in to trouble with the police.
It is an opportunity for them to develop their self-esteem (if that is lacking) and sense of responsibility. Self discipline will be encouraged and above all the ability to work as an equal in a team. The crew will learn essentially how to make a full contribution to a team of strangers working in close quarters, not only in practical terms but socially as well. Hardship is not inflicted for it's own sake but the crew will be given the opportunity to confront and overcome it, in the interest of completing a co-operative adventure and to feel justifiably proud of themselves when they've succeeded.
One of the criteria for selection will be people who despite the local circumstances have performed well either academically or who have given time that has been spent wisely and to the benefit of their local community. This project would give them the opportunity to develop from a voyage of adventure, a 'Chance of A Lifetime'.
A 'Crew Members Assessment Report' is completed on the trainees and copies of the report are given to the trainees and can be used as part of their C.V. or as part of an application to University. The voyage also counts as residential towards The Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme.
The voyage has been set aside for 13 days from the 20th August to the 1st September 2002.
The route for the voyage, which may be subject to change, is for The Winston Churchill to sail from Hull and The Stavros S. Niarchos from Amsterdam, both ships will be training crews for a short period of time and then meeting in Portsmouth. It is anticipated that they will race to St. Malo for the first leg, then Cobh (Cork) on the second leg and finish together at Birkenhead.
This event is aimed at increasing the number and quality of positive police contacts with local young people and companies of the Wirral. It may be seen as another way of giving young adults the opportunity to meet and talk with members of their local police and at the same time build their confidence in a 'Chance of A Lifetime'.
On board the crew will be divided into three teams, or watches and a police officer will be assigned to each group as a Mentor. Other police officers will also take part, sailing as Navigator, and for example as Purser, Watch Officers and Watch Leaders. Furthermore the Police Surgeon for the Wirral district has also agreed to sail as Ship's Doctor.
The cost of this project is in excess of £70,000 and although the Merseyside and Deeside branch of the Sail Training Association have already contributed a proportion in conjunction with National Loterry monies, to raise this amount The Merseyside Police have approached local companies for their help. Many companies and Industrialists have seen the potential of the Voyage (see listing). They have seen it as an opportunity to promote good relationships between young people, the Police and local industry of Wirral.
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