<p class="MsoNormal"> <object id="ieooui" classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D"> </object> <!--st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } -->&lt;!--[endif]--&gt; <object id="ieooui" classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D"> </object> <!-- st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } --></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">What is Project Rough Seas?</span></strong><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Project</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"> Rough Seas is a life-changing opportunity for a group of&nbsp;60 young people from Catch22 services across the UK. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The young people&rsquo;s charity Catch22, the British Schools Exploring Society (BSES), and Ethical Skills &amp; Training (EST) are together organising an extensive overland and tall ships expedition to Scandinavia in July and August 2011, culminating in 6 month apprenticeships for all those involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The expedition itself will enable the&nbsp;60 young people to cultivate life skills, a sense of responsibility and build their confidence and ambitions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>In addition they will be encouraged to take up the challenge of gaining the RYA Competent Crew Certificate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><strong>Who will benefit?</strong><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Catch22 works with some on the most disadvantaged and at-risk young people in the UK.&nbsp;The young expeditioners will come from our care services because these young people are disproportionately disadvantaged:</span></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">At age 19, 93% of care leavers are Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET). </span></li> <li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">75% of young offenders have come through our care services, so we can't afford to ignore this group of young people.&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">The legacy&nbsp;</span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Catch22, EST&nbsp;and the Project Rough Seas Team will support and mentor all the participants into further training, education or work placements and encourage all to become peer mentors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">We will ensure that they truly develop as a result of this expedition, not only as individuals but that their achievements and progress are felt in the community they live in, breaking the vicious cycle they are trapped in. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Supporters&nbsp;</span></strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">We are fortunate to have the high profile involvement of Ben Fogle who will be fronting a TV documentary about the young people&rsquo;s journey throughout the three-phase programme: the young expeditioners recruitment and training, their expedition; and their re-entry into education and employment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Endorsements of Project Rough Seas from the Prime Minister David Cameron, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Bear Grylls amongst many others are clear validations of the strength of this programme. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">&lsquo;An epic challenge for an important cause. This mission will give many kids who have never experienced anything like this before, the chance to grow through a serious adventure. I love that, and I know&nbsp;how powerful such expeditions can be in young peoples lives. Well done the team, you have my full admiration!&rsquo;<br />Bear Grylls - Global Adventurer and Chief Scout, figurehead to 28 million Scouts Worldwide</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">We hope that you will join Catch22 in making Project Rough Seas a successful and sustainable project, helping turn young people to turn their lives around and achieve the impossible. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">For more information <a href="http://www.catch-22.org.uk/project-rough-seas">www.catch-22.org.uk/project-rough-seas</a> </span></p>