All Hands on Deck! – Inclusive Youth Voyage
12 September 2025
This October 2025, the R. Tucker Thompson Sail Training Trust will host our first inclusive youth development voyage for rangatahi aged 16–21 with intellectual disabilities.
In partnership with Blomfield Special School, this 4-day sailing adventure will see young people, too often excluded from outdoor opportunities, step aboard our tall ship, hoist the sails, and enjoy the freedom of ship life. It’s an unforgettable chance to build teamwork, confidence, and connection through the magic of the moana.
We’ve called it All Hands on Deck! to reflect the power of collective effort to achieve big goals.
Thanks to Sport Northland’s Tū Manawa fund and the mahi of the Blomfield team, we’ve already secured about 80% of the costs. Now we’re asking our community to help raise the final balance — and longer term, to turn this pilot into an annual fixture for inclusive youth development in Te Tai Tokerau.
Your support will:
- Back a student’s place on this pioneering voyage
- Help remove barriers to outdoor education for young people with intellectual disabilities
- Lay the foundation for a yearly programme that empowers rangatahi to live rewarding lives.
Every donation, big or small, brings us closer to hoisting the sails for this very special crew.
Together, let’s make All Hands on Deck! a reality.
#outdooreducation #tallshipsailing #youthdevelopment #InclusiveEducation
