Alec, 16

A year ago I was in trouble all the time at school – rude, aggressive and at times violent. When they said I had to go to Fairbridge I said no way.

Fairbridge wasn’t like school though – we were active all the time and not kept behind desks. We did things like rock climbing, caving and canoeing at first, which were great fun.

I started coming two days a week and my school work began improving. I did loads of new stuff ‘Can Cook, Will Cook’ – I’d never really cooked for myself but now I can make a four-course meal. I also did ‘Smoke It, Know It’ – looking at drugs and their effect on you. I used to smoke weed a lot and realised I’m not untouchable and could get into serious trouble for drugs.

It’s pretty difficult growing up around Hackney especially with the gang thing. It’s all based on postcode; if you get caught out of your area you can get hit. I used to get pizza from this shop but I can’t now - another gang run that area. I know kids as young as 10 that are carrying blades for protection. Going to college and wanting to do well is seen as a bad thing.

I recently went on Spirit. I felt angry at first but then saw it as an opportunity to make some changes. You have to work as a team on that boat – if you don’t cooperate, it will sink - kind of like the decisions you make in life.

At Fairbridge you get to meet people like you – especially the staff. You can have a laugh while still learning stuff – there’s a lot of encouragement.

I’ve recently applied to go into the Army. I’ve been doing the Cadets and since being at Fairbridge my commitment has really gone up. If there was no Fairbridge, I definitely would’ve ended up in prison. I was playing with guns and knives and stealing cars. At Fairbridge you get the space to look at your life away from all the negativity you can make real, positive changes.

Bibby Line employees

The journey was an absolutely fantastic and priceless experience, which left us all a little emotional at the end. The people that Fairbridge help are not kids, they are young people, each of which has their own story to tell. It is both amazing and very humbling to see the way that with the help of Fairbridge they have turned their lives around. It was a
great learning experience and I would recommend it to anyone.
Derek, Bibby Line - Sailing Spirit from Fort William to Liverpool

To be able to be part of the crew that brought Spirit home was a chance of a lifetime and will never be forgotten. The whole crew were fantastic and I ended the week feeling incredibly proud of the young people who shared the voyage with us, they have come so far thanks to the work of Fairbridge. It’s fantastic that Bibby Line will continue to be a
part of such a life changing programme.
Gerald, Bibby Line - Sailing Spirit from Fort William to Liverpool Bibby Line Partnership Launch Spirit of Fairbridge