The Trip

This trip is a joint venture between Bachlaw Projects, Brighter Horizons and Hassela, Sweden.

We will be sailing from Peterhead on the 12th June and will be visiting three countries, Norway, Denmark and Sweden, before returning and arriving back in Lerwick at the end of July to hopefully take in the sights of the Tall Ships.

There will be various activities/trips along the way; in Norway we will visit a theme park and a zoo, in Denmark we will visit Legoland and we will also be visiting places and learning all about Swedish culture as we cross Sweden by canal. In addition to this we will be spending a few days living at the Hassela Community in Gotland, two young people and an adult from Hassela will even be making the return journey with us.

We have set up this blog about the trip so that people can be kept updated and fully informed on our progress and also so that you can comment and leave messages for the crew/young people, we will really enjoy reading these so please leave comments/messages if you can but be aware this is a public website that anyone can read and we will be approving posts before they are uploaded on to the site.

Organisations, Sponsors and Funders

ORGANISATIONS

All three organisations involved, Bachlaw Projects, Brighter Horizons and Hassela, Sweden, have a background in working with young people.

BACHLAW PROJECTS

Bachlaw Projects is a dynamic set of services based in rural Aberdeenshire, which truly meet individual, family and community needs. There are five strands to the service namely; Bachlaw Intensive Support Unit, Bachlaw Crisis Care, Bachlaw School/Education, Bachlaw in the Community and Bachlaw Training and Consultancy.
Bachlaw Projects have a wealth of experience in social work and are motivated to improve the outcomes for children and young people who have complex needs or who have experienced trauma or other difficulties.

www.bachlawprojects.co.uk

BRIGHTER HORIZONS

Brighter Horizons is a charity for young people aged 11 - 21 in the Banffshire area. Through a programme of planned sessions and diversion activities they aim to provide a safe and supportive environment where young people can relax, socialise and be diverted away from anti-social and risk taking behaviour in the community.  In addition Brighter Horizons provides specialist 1:1 support for young people involved in or at risk of becoming involved in risk taking and anti-social behaviour.  Alongside a core programme of activities they have an active volunteer recruitment and development programme, that supports  and includes individuals within the community to develop their skill set, gain recognised qualifications, and gain valid work experience.

www.brighterhorizons.org.uk

HASSELA GOTLAND
For many years Hassela Gotland has strived to work with youths with social problems. The background is shifting as well as the solution, but the goal remains the same - that every youth has talents and aptitude that can be developed. Here both adults and youths live and work together – some live here permanently, whilst others come on a daily basis. We want to take an active roll to shape a society that does not close the doors on our youth at such an early stage, but instead give an opportunity for the young and old to grow in accordance to their own abilities.

www.hasselagotland.se

SPONSORS

THOMAS GUNN NAVIGATION SERVICES
Thomas Gunn Navigation Services Ltd is the world's market leading International Admiralty Chart Agent and specialises in the supply of navigational products and associated services to the shipping industry on a worldwide basis.

FUNDERS

AWARDS FOR ALL/THE NATIONAL LOTTERY, BIG LOTTERY FUND

http://www.awardsforall.org.uk/scotland/

The Boat - 'WINDSHIFT'

'Windshift' will be crewed by experienced and qualified adults.

It is a 36 ft sailing yacht that is Lloyds class A registered and commercially coded by the Royal Yachting Association. It has a certificate of British Registry through the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

It has a full itinerary of navigation safety equipment on board and is inspected every year by the Royal Yachting Association which insists on commercially coded vessels such as 'Windshift' to be equipped to the highest standards.