A GROUP of young people from Cove and Kilcreggan and Kilcreggan are to be given the chance to spend seven days at sea learning about sailing, team working, and pushing themselves out of their comfort zone.

A total of 12 youngsters, all of them members of the Cove and Kilcreggan Youth Café, will take part in the trip, which was organised by the cafe’s founder, Susie Will.

And a day of fund-raising is planned next weekend to help meet the cost of sending the young people on the experience of a lifetime.

The programme will be delivered by Ocean Youth Trust Scotland, a youth work charity and floating outdoor education centre.

The trust’s residential sailing voyages aim to support people aged 12-25 to realise their full potential in order to help them live healthy, fulfilling lives and make positive contributions to their community.

Its work aims to inspire young people by providing a uniquely powerful and effective environment for personal development.

Susie said that, following lockdown and disruption to the Youth Café’s activities, the facility has never been so vital.

She has also noticed a greater need for the children attending to enjoy natural socialisation.

She added: “They were desperate to just hang out together - no school rules, no online learning, just good old fashioned kids play.”

To support the continued provision of activities like the sailing trip, the club is holding a fundraiser next month.

A car boot sale and craft fair will be held at Cove Burgh Hall from 2pm-4pm on Saturday, May 7, with baking, burgers, hot dogs, and plenty of bargains are set to be on offer.

Following this, there will be a BYOB family disco at the hall from 7pm-10pm.

Spaces at the car boot sale cost £10 and tickets for the disco are £5 per person, or £15 per family.

The group says attendance and support will be gratefully received, with the money raised going towards the facility’s future projects.

To reserve a space or purchase tickets, contact Bev Burns on 07814 960107 or email bevlburns@yahoo.co.uk.

The Youth Café meets on Monday and Thursday from 6.30-830pm, as well as Saturday from 1.30-3.30pm.

Sessions are delivered by qualified youth worker John Agnew.

Anyone with children interested in joining the Youth Café should call Susie on 07949 178206.