Come and skipper for the Trust in 2020

Could you do something incredible and use your sailing skills to make a difference to young people in recovery from cancer?

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is on the lookout for new talent to skipper on their 2020 trips. If you’re a Commercially Endorsed Yachtmaster, with a minimum of a Cruising Instructor endorsement, and are interested in helping young people get their lives back on track after cancer, the Trust would love to hear from you.

A national charity that supports young people aged 8-24 in rebuilding their confidence after cancer, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust sails on four and five day trips from Cowes on the Isle of Wight and Largs on Scotland’s west coast.

When treatment ends the Trust’s work begins because for many young people picking up where they left off before their diagnosis just isn’t possible.

Through the sailing trips young people build confidence by making friends with others who have been through similar, rediscover independence away from home, learn new skills and, most importantly, stop feeling like they are the ‘only one’.

Each trip has a flotilla of between three and six boats so you need to be happy working as part of a larger team. The trips are a huge amount of fun with an underpinning focus on safety. An enhanced DBS / PVG check will be required as part of the process.

Clipper Round The World veteran, Simon Bradley, has been skippering for the Trust since 2009. He admits he feels privileged to be able to help young people in their recovery from cancer.

“When they are on the water you see the young people start relaxing,” he explains. “Often they don’t have a lot of confidence to start with, but then they start seeing nature do its thing and something changes in them.

“There’s this constant hum of chatter as they get to know each other and realise they are not the only ones. They share what I call their ‘war stories.’ Some have had treatment for many years, for others it’s not so long. But any time at all is too long for anyone to go through the experiences they have had at such a young age.”

The Trust’s next selection event is running on 23-24 September. But if you aren’t able to make those dates, and are still interested in joining the Trust’s pool of skippers for 2020 then do still get in touch.

Send your CV and covering letter to [email protected]