SAIL training charity Challenge Wales has secured funding to set up a Challenge Wales Youth Panel and is now looking for young volunteers aged between 16 and 24 years to get involved.

The Youth Panel will help direct the charity and encourage more young people to take advantage of sail training.

The funding comes from GwirVol, which supports youth volunteering in Wales, and is administered through the WCVA (Welsh Council of Voluntary Action).

The Youth Panel will be made up of young people from different parts of Wales, will help raise awareness of the charity, help shape Challenge Wales’ work with the young people of Wales and ensure young people’s views are heard by feeding into the Board of Trustees.

Challenge Wales is looking for between 10 and 12 people to be on the Youth Panel which will meet three to four times a year in Cardiff.

Youngsters don’t need to have sailed on Challenge Wales to get involved. Those on the Youth Panel will have the opportunity to sail on Challenge Wales and have their expenses paid to get to and from meetings.

Additionally, being a member of the Challenge Wales Youth Panel will also help to develop the Youth Panel members’ own personal skills in communication, teamwork and self-confidence.

Trustee Vicky Williams said: “We are keen for more young people to get involved with Wales’ Tall Ship, Challenge Wales, and having young ambassadors who can help us reach out to young people is fantastic."

Any interested young people can contact Challenge Wales on 029 20 220 266 or email Reservations@challengewales.org for an information pack.