All States-maintained schools will continue to receive free boating tuition for another five years, following the recent renewal of an agreement between the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture and the Guernsey Sailing Trust.

The Guernsey Sailing Trust, a charity providing sailing, powerboating and other water-based learning, delivers lessons to around 2,500 students each year, including through Guernsey schools, after school clubs, community and outreach groups and via holiday courses.

The Committee for Education, Sport & Culture provides grant-funding for the Trust to deliver learning for schools, which includes enabling pupils to work towards recognised RYA-accredited qualifications.

The Trust’s provision of sessions with schools is managed by a Service Level Agreement, which has been renewed for a further five years.

Guernsey Sailing Trust Principal, Sarah Creasey, said: “Providing boating opportunities to young people in Guernsey is at the very heart of the Guernsey Sailing Trust.

“Being able to offer free tuition to young people helps ensure they can benefit from the experience and develop important skills associated with living on an island such as water confidence, safety, environmental awareness and more transferable attributes such as independence, teamwork and resilience.”

Deputy Paul Montague, President of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture, said:
“I am pleased the previous Committee renewed the agreement with Guernsey
Sailing Trust, so that they can continue to provide such valuable enrichment
opportunities to our students.

“Sailing is a brilliant way for young people to help develop transferable skills, gain accredited qualifications, and enjoy the beautiful outdoor environment our island offers us. I look forward to seeing our learners continue to benefit from this partnership over the next five years.”

In 2024, students from every school in Guernsey, Alderney, Herm and Sark spent time with the Trust, with 4,608 total school sessions delivered. This included 523 ‘Sailability’ sessions, a bespoke programme that enables people with disabilities to get involved in sailing through the utilisation of specialist equipment.

Further, in 2024, the Trust employed 62 people under the age of 21 to support the delivery
of their programme, with it being many children’s first experience of work.

The Trust also helped people achieve their volunteering Duke of Edinburgh requirements.