• Our aim is to generate sufficient revenue each year to fund an annual programme of water sports activities – everything from first time taster sessions to focused five-day RYA certificates - for young carers in Hampshire.

  • Our focus is relatively accessible water sports – paddleboarding, dinghy sailing, kayaking and wind surfing. Wherever we are running the sessions, we provide or fund all the equipment and safety gear so there is no cost to young carers or their families.

  • This year we will be supporting over 250 young carers to build their confidence and either try out a new water sport or further develop skills in sports they started last year.

Who are Young Carers?

Young carers are children and young people aged 8-19 who care for a family member with a long term illness or disability; this could be a parent or sibling. The impact of being a young carer is profound as children as young as eight take on the practical and emotional caring that most of us only take on as adults. All this can put the young carers themselves under huge emotional and mental strain – around 80% of young carers have mental health issues as either the primary or secondary condition relating to their caring situation. Furthermore, this demanding role means that they are often not able to take part in after school activities and clubs and be carefree in the way we would want young people to be.

How we support Young Carers

Young carers tell us that they can feel isolated and not understood. The RSYC Trust makes a positive contribution to young lives by:

  • Providing an important opportunity for a bit of fun and ‘me time’: young carers report that they do not have the same opportunities to take part in activities as other young people due to their caring role

  • Offering opportunities that contribute to good physical and mental health, social confidence and personal development

  • Encouraging young carers to learn new skills and progress in their chosen water sport by funding courses and nationally recognised certificates

  • Recognising the achievement of skills and personal journeys at our annual prize giving, which takes place on SS Shieldhall each November.

Activities

  1. Water Activity Days at Gins on the River Beaulieu

With the support of our trustees and lovely volunteers, we run up to 6 water activity days (180 places) for young carers from the RSYC clubhouse in the New Forest, during the May and July/August school holidays. Here youngsters can try out 6 different activities including kayaking, paddleboarding, dinghy sailing, crab fishing, enjoy a trip on the river bird and seal spotting and as a finale, ride a giant paddleboard.

The activity days are free and all the water safety gear and wetsuits are provided by the Trust.

2 . RYA courses and national qualifications

For young carers who want to develop their skills, we work with our partners at Spinnaker Sailing Club, Ringwood and Woodmill Outdoor Activities Centre, Southampton, funding kayaking, paddleboarding and wind surfing courses and certificates, and RYA dinghy sailing qualifications.

3 . Regatta and BBQ

To mark the end of the summer season in September, we run a water activities fun day and on-the-water treasure hunt at Spinnaker Sailing Club for 30 young carers.

Families are also invited to attend and watch from the safety of the shore, with everyone enjoying a free BBQ lunch.

4 . Annual prize-giving

Our annual prize giving event, takes place on the SS Shieldhall in Southampton in November. We award two trophies:

1. Michael Harlick Shield for the young carer who has made special/most progress in terms of confidence and development on the water (any activity)

2. Helena Lucas Trophy for the young carer who has made the greatest personal progress in terms of their own personal development/confidence.

All the young carers attending receive a certificate and medal, presented by our patron, Nigel Atkinson, HM Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire.

This is a great opportunity to recognise the achievements of our young carers; families can take lots of memorable photos and also enjoy a tour of the ship.

Feedback from Young Carer Organisations

“The Young Carers who take part in the activities funded by the RSYCT sail in windy, cold conditions (with wet suits) as well as glorious sunshine. They make a huge personal effort to succeed in whatever form that takes, whether it be personal hurdles, overcoming lack of confidence lack of physical strength for example, not knowing anyone, showing commitment at the sessions and making progress which may be small in terms of measured achievement ie the RYA stage 1 & 2, but huge for them.”

“All sessions on the water offer an opportunity for enthusiastic participation and many overcome their fears to try something new. These experiences are so important for their ongoing mental health and wellbeing.”

“The Sailing programme has a long term impact on our Young Carers and we are already seeing the legacy of the scheme in action with Young Carers completing RYA Levels, moving onto residential sail training trips with organisations such as Ocean Youth Trust South, becoming Volunteers themselves and even choosing to study marine based subjects at college.”

Feedback from Young Carers

We regularly evaluate our programme. Here is some feedback from young carers, referring to the 2024 and 2025 Gins Water Activities Days.

2024

  • “Overall 10/10”

  • “It was awesome!”

  • “Loved swimming and want to do it all over again”

  • “The day was perfect! Thank you so much. X”

2025

  • “I couldn’t improve the day, it was wonderful.”

  • “I liked the boat trip and seeing the seals”

  • “I wasn’t a fan of crabbing until I caught one, then I loved it!”

  • “I really liked today and made some new friends”

  • “I was happy the whole day. Could you make it longer..?”