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The Not
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Working with AHOY

Would you like to work with young people? We are pleased to be partnering with AHOY to provide opportunities for our veterans to get involved in voluntary, freelance and contract work with this brilliant organisation.

Find out more about AHOY by visiting their website and read about how you can get involved below. If you’d like to pop in and meet the AHOY team then get in touch and ask about their Inclusive Lunch which runs every Wednesday.

Types of activities that individuals can get involved in, voluntary, freelance and contract – including responsibilities, hours and flexible working arrangements.

We run four main programmes/activities – Shipmates – Sailability – AHOY Activity Programme – Sailing For All. These programmes have different outputs but are all centred around the main activities/training of: sailing, rowing, life skills, mentoring support, land based activities, basic maintenance. Our training and activities are to provide practical education, life skills, mentoring support and from 14 onwards get our young people ready for the world of work.

  • Shipmates for 8 to 18 years – mainly Saturday from 9 to 5pm – plus additional days through holiday time
  • Sailability – 16 to 40 years – for people with disabilities the majority are learning difficulties, SEN’s, Asparagus, autism – mainly Wednesday from 9 to 3:30pm some on a Saturday morning
  • AHOY Activity Programme – 8 to 18 year olds – additional activities Martial Arts, Dance, Drama, Basic Cooking, Workin Canvas,  3:30 to 7pm on Wednesday (soon to be Monday as well)
  • Sailing For All – 8 to 18 year olds – Stage 1 sailing course for schools – normally Tuesday & Thursday from 9 to 4pm

Additional programmes include:

  • Different Kind of Blade – 10 to 18 year olds – gang/criminal activity diversionary engagement – some of the main activities as above plus mechanics, design and basic DIY skills
  • Show Me Why – Apprenticeship Activity Leadership Level 2 – 16 to 21 years olds -for NEET’s (Not in Education, Employment or Training) – for range of all the sailing and rowing qualifications plus Functional Skills, work experience & life skills

Details on qualifications that can be obtained through AHOY

The following are RYA (Royal Yachting Association) National and International recognised qualifications and BR (British Rowing)

  • All of the RYA sailing qualifications leading up to the instructor roles:
    • Sailing Levels 1 to 4
    • Seamanship
    • Powerboat Level 2
    • First Aid
    • VHF Communications
  • RYA Assistant Dinghy Instructor
  • RYA Dinghy Instructor
  • RYA Senior Instructor
  • RYA Safety Boat Officer
  • RYA Powerboat Instructor
  • BR – Session Coach

Others:

  • Minibus Driver
  • Mentoring/coaching
  • Basic maintenance skills and also boat repairs

If the person signs up to becoming a long term volunteer then many of the courses are highly subsidised. If not then the cost ranges from £65 to £560.

Career pathways, overview of what type of employment opportunities that qualifications can lead to:

  • Apart from the direct ‘Marine’ path way listed below we have links/partnerships with various companies offering both work experience and employment opportunities e.g. – Hilton (Canary Wharf) – Thames Clippers – Tideway Tunnels – Barclays
  • Safety Boat Officer – general work in a number of different areas – Safety boat for running on water events – works on the river/sea – abroad – then dependent on further qualifications/experience wind farms, oil rigs, etc.
  • Sailing Instructors – once qualified working at any Sailing Centre around the world (at present one of the highest demand areas apart from Europe are the Emirates and Asia) – work with Yacht charter companies in the UK and abroad – crew members for super yachts.

Beginning outline steps for Powerboat/Safety Boat Officer

  • On completing of RYA Powerboat Level 2 the student can take their qualification in a number of directions, the first is to apply for an International certificate of competence. This can be used for hiring of motor boats/vessels.
  • Or turn their PB L2 in to a commercial qualification by applying for a commercial endorsement (required for work on board British flagged vessels). A number of additional training courses and medical fitness certificates are required to be eligible for a commercial endorsement.
  • This then leads to training to become a Safety Boat Officer
  • Most companies employing Powerboat Skipper ask for the Advance level due to the knowledge level and  they can operate further off shore and in the dark, unlike a commercial level two who can only operate in daylight hours and only 3 miles from departure point.