The RSYC Trust charity focuses on providing water sports experiences and tuition for young people facing adversity, principally young carers in Hampshire. Our activities include providing water 4-6 activity days a year at our clubhouse on the River Beaulieu, giving young carers the opportunity to try out dinghy sailing, paddle boarding, and kayaking, supported by instructors and our amazing volunteers. We also pay for directed sessions leading to national qualifications in all these sports at Spinnaker Sailing Club, Ringwood and Woodmill in Southampton.

We know from talking to young carers themselves that they really appreciate this opportunity to enjoy some important ‘me’ time, free from their caring responsibility, and take part in something that they would not normally have the chance to do. Learning a new skill, achieving certificates and being able to add these achievements to a CV is an added bonus.

Many young carers face multiple disadvantages, for example they are part of families where money is tight; many by the nature of their caring role also suffer from mental anxieties and feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Our feedback and evaluation processes highlight that the water activities we fund have a huge impact on the lives of young carers.