As a result, we rely on donations from commercial sponsors, charitable trusts and philanthropic individuals to keep our boat and out sail training work afloat. You can support us in several ways:

1. By making a donation. A monthly convenant will attract tax relief increasing the size of your donation, you can donate to us using gift aid or make a one-off donation, or you can donate to help us with a specific item. The James Cook sails many thousands of miles each year and despite constant maintenance from our resident bosun, sea staff and refit volunteers, things wear out and need replacing. If you or your organisation wish to help us by replacing a specific item of equipment, contact us and the skipper will be delighted to discuss the upgrades or new equipment needed on the boat.

2. By sponsoring a voyage. It costs £3,600 to run a six-day voyage for twelve young people, and this payment will help young people to sail who would otherwise not be able to take on the challenges and opportunities for development offered by time at sea on the James Cook. This would entitle the donor to corporate membership of Sail James Cook, and we would issue a press release and crew photograph and present the sponsor with a corporate membership certificate and framed photograph of the crew.

3. By forming a James Cook support group. We rely on volunteers to sail with us as sea staff, to help with refit work and fundraising. The James Cook takes young people from Humberside, Yorkshire, Teesside, Wearside, Tyneside and Northumberland, and we believe that sail training has a great deal to offer young people from all walks of life. A support group could be dedicated to raising funds to send young people from a town or school to sail on the James Cook, and would be invited aboard the boat during the sailing season.

4. By becoming a member of sea staff. We rely on voluntary sea staff to act as watchleaders on voyages. You need sailing experience, and a have to want to work with young people: it is as much youthwork as sailing. You will initially pay to sail with us on a familiarisation voyage, the skipper will assess your suitability to sail with us. If accepted, the skipper will then work out a training programme to develop your sailing and youth work skills to the level we expect of watchleaders, and once you have passed your Criminal Records Bureau check, you will be able to sail with as a watchleader. Contact the skipper Steve Lennon on 0776 989 3070 if you are interested.

To discuss making a donation, sponsoring a voyage, volunteering to set up a support group or becoming a member of sea staff, or ring our shore office on 0191 257 1212.