09 May 2024
Joining us for the first time? Or are you ready to do it all over again? Or maybe you’re still umming and ahhing about signing up? (What are you waiting for!)
We have spent every moment since last year’s season finished getting ready for this one - and it is big. With 36 different adventures taking place from May to September, young people from across the UK will join us in Cowes, Largs, and with partner organisations all over the country.
Lots of trips means lots of young people. 2024 looks to be the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust’s biggest year yet, with over 700 young people set to take part in transformational adventures.
But no matter how many people we support – 1 or 1,000 – our ambition is always the same: to inspire young people living through and beyond cancer to believe in a brighter future.
It all kicks off on May 27 during half-term when young people who are returning for more support will join two trips - the first five-day sailing adventure from the Isle of Wight in 2024 and an exciting outdoor activity week at Longtown Outdoor Learning in Hereford.
Sailing from Largs begins at the start of June with some over 18s looking forward to coming back for some more time together and more time on the water around Scotland's stunning west coast.
We can’t wait to welcome hundreds of new faces to the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust community this year when first time trips begin in the middle of July. Primary treatment centres and partners have introduced lots of young people to us in the last few months and we cannot thank them enough for their help in making sure it is a summer to remember for hundreds of those who are all in the same boat.
There are still some spaces on board if you or someone you know could benefit from some much-needed support after treatment. Sign up at this link or email us at [email protected] if you have any questions. We are happy to help!
After going down a treat last year, Alba Adventures returns this summer for some sportier and more technical sailing. Young people will join Alba Explorer or Alba Venturer in Greenock on Scotland’s west coast for a memorable experience run in partnership with Ocean Youth Trust Scotland.
On the south coast, Jurassic Cruising is a chance to come aboard Prolific, Ocean Youth Trust South’s tribute to 19th century Norwegian fishing vessels! With eagles, ospreys, dolphins and puffins all spotted in previous years, this trip is a real treat for wildlife fans.
For young people who prefer to be stationed on land, there are a whole host of outdoor adventure centres who help us keep the magic wherever we go, like Water Park Lakeland Adventure, our long-term friends based in the spectacular Lake District.
We are delighted to be working with two new centres this year too! Crowden Outdoors in the Peak District promises rock climbing, zip wires, archery, cave exploration, and it wouldn’t be an Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust trip without some water involved, so look out for canoeing, raft building, and stream scrambling too.
For something a little slower, Flynne’s Barn Wellness Retreat is sure to be therapeutic for the body and the mind. Small groups of young people will join this weekend experience and work together to get the most from their time there, which could include art, music, yoga, walks, and exploring nature around the valley. There is sailing and rock climbing on offer too, and even the chance to walk with some alpacas!
Our Ambition is to be visible, relevant and accessible to every young person who has a cancer diagnosis in the UK and be somewhere every one feels they belong. If you – whoever you are, whatever community you belong to, however you identify – are looking for support after cancer, we are here for you. If there is anything we can do to put your mind at ease before deciding to join a sailing adventure, talk to us.
Everyone deserves the chance to believe in a brighter future.
We cannot wait to see you