ASTO

23/06/2026

Just one week left to apply for the 2026 Trinity House ASTO Career Development Bursary!
Find out more: asto.org.uk/training/trinity-house/

18/06/2026

New Apprenticeship Opportunity!

We are opening up recruitment for a new apprentice to join us.

For more details and how to apply, please visit https://cirdantrust.org/apprentice

16/06/2026

Youth services have been cut dramatically over the past decade, and new data shows the impact is even worse than previously understood.

A 2025 YMCA Europe report found local authority spending on youth services has fallen 73% in England since 2010, leading to the closure of more than half of all youth clubs.

UNISON’s 2023–24 FOI analysis goes further: 42% of local authorities now report having no council‑run youth centre at all. We are failing our young people.

Against this backdrop, we are proud that our sail training offers something increasingly rare - a safe, structured, supportive space where young people can build confidence, connection and wellbeing.

You can read the full YMCA report here:

https://ymca.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ymca-youth-services-beyond-the-brink.pdf

12/06/2026

At the Annual Sail Training Conference, we caught up with Claire Thatcher, ASTO Trustee and marketing expert, to talk about her role in the organisation, her perspective on the sail training sector and how she supports ASTO’s marketing strategy.

A big thank you to Claire for sharing her time and insight!

You can watch the full interview here ⛵🌊

04/06/2026

Thank you to Marine Industry News for sharing this article!

At a time when the latest Milburn Report reveals that 1,012,000 young people aged 16–24 are NEET (not in employment, education or training) - representing 13.5% of all young people in the UK - the need for meaningful opportunities and effective collaboration has never been greater.

The Tall Ships Races are proof of what's possible when youth services, community organisations and sail training charities come together.

We don't just deliver voyages; we open doors, build confidence, develop skills and create opportunities that can have a lasting impact long after the sails are lowered. 🌊⛵

You can read the full article here:
https://marineindustrynews.co.uk/sail-trainings-collaborative-model-is-helping-hard-to-reach-young-people-thrive/

Ocean Youth Trust Scotland
The Swan Trust
Sea Cadets
Tall Ships Aberdeen
Sail Training International

For many young people facing barriers to confidence, education or employment, opportunity rarely arrives in isolation. In sail training, the biggest

03/06/2026

It’s very encouraging seeing the news that Marc Bolland will lead the government’s response to rising youth unemployment. His plan to unite major employers and accelerate the Youth Jobs Guarantee is exactly the kind of coordinated action young people urgently need.

At ASTO, we see how sail training transforms young people, building confidence, teamwork and resilience, the human skills employers say are in shortest supply.

If we want real change, we must invest in the experiences that unlock potential, not just the jobs that follow.

You can read the full story below:

Part of Marc Bolland’s government advisory role will be to help disabled or depressed young people to find training or job

03/06/2026

Applications for the 2026 Trinity House ASTO Career Development Bursary are open. These bursaries support the career development of staff and volunteers in the UK sail training industry who wish to become qualified as mates and skippers or to increase their current qualifications.
Eligibility:
⛵You must volunteer or work for an ASTO member organisation
⛵Hold a minimum of RYA Day Skipper practical
⛵Be a British Citizen
⛵Have accrued the qualifying sea-time relevant to the qualification applied for by the time date the course is taken
⛵Have sail training experience and intend to continue a career working in UK sail training

APPLICATIONS CLOSE TUESDAY 30TH JUNE

For full details of how to apply see:
asto.org.uk/training/trinity-house/

20/05/2026

Last week Matt & Vicky Barraud, together with Ann and John Badderly, attended His Majesty's Garden Party at Buckingham Palace as representatives of the Association of Sail Training Organisations. They were selected to attend in recognition of the contribution they have made within the wider sail training community.

Morvargh Sailing Project & Ocean Youth Trust Scotland

19/05/2026

Kerry McMillan, CEO of ASTO, recently shared her insights on youth collaboration in Charity Times magazine.

957,000 young people in the UK are currently not in education, employment or training (NEET). Behind that number are young people who are not being reached, and Kerry highlights how collaboration can maximise the impact of efforts across sectors and organisations.

In the article, she discusses how sail training is reaching young people who might otherwise be missed, and why the model developed through the Tall Ships Races in Aberdeen offers a blueprint for what genuine collaboration can achieve.

If you have a subscription to Charity Times, you can read the full article below:

Kerry McMillan: How collaboration is reshaping outcomes for young people 13/05/2026 The voluntary sector holds immense power to change lives—but only by working together can charities extend their reach and deepen their impact, Kerry McMillan, CEO of ASTO writes. __________________________________...

18/05/2026

Tough conversations are never easy, but Lindsay Bridges made them feel a lot more manageable.

Speaking at the ASTO UK Sail Training Conference, Lindsay drew on over two decades of international HR experience to explore how organisations can handle feedback and underperformance with both honesty and care.

Lindsay’s talk was engaging and full of lively discussions - thank you for sharing your insights with us all.

We caught up with Lindsay on the day - you can watch the video here. 🌊🛥️