The Fairbridge Trust

This Trust, which has already received grants from the Company, is a nationwide organisation helping 3,500 severely disadvantaged young people per annum (age 13-25, 75% of whom are under 18). The Trust merged with The Prince's Trust in April 2011, to form one organisation.

The young people supported by The Trust have multiple problems of homelessness, lack of parental support, a history of offending, drug abuse and mental health issues. After initial courses, the young people follow different programmes. One of these programmes is to spend a week on the tall ship "The Spirit of Fairbridge". The Fairbridge Trust has introduced a traineeship scheme whereby two candidates, selected from those who have spent a week at sea, are given one year working on the ship to gain a Royal Yachting Association qualification, a tangible and lasting achievement. The Company aims to sponsor these two traineeships at a total cost of £20,000 per annum.