Funding a Sail Training voyage may feel like a significant step, but many families find it more achievable than they first expect. This page explains how costs work, what support may be available, and how we work alongside families to help make a voyage possible.
Being on the boat helped me with resilience as being in night watches I had to stay active throughout. The repetition of putting up sails helped me with my confidence and taught me that I am capable of doing things from a more independent view. Before going on the trip, I really wanted to see and do lots of new things, and I definitely did. Overall the trip was utterly amazing and I’d recommend it to anyone who’s thinking about doing it and it was worth all the fundraising and all the hard work paid off.
Brooke, trainee
We believe that cost should never be the sole reason a young person misses out on a voyage with Morvargh Sailing Project. At the same time, we believe in being open and honest about what it takes to deliver safe, high-quality Sail Training at sea.
This page explains how funding works at Morvargh; the support we may be able to offer; and how families, schools, and communities often work together to make a voyage achievable.
For most participants, funding a voyage is not about finding one single solution. It is usually a combination of personal contribution, fundraising, sponsorship, and, where available, bursary support. We encourage families to begin these conversations early and approach the process as a shared journey rather than something to face alone.
Running a Sail Training organisation safely and responsibly involves significant and unavoidable costs. These are not optional extras; they are what allow young people to learn, grow, and be properly supported in a safe offshore environment.
These costs include the safe operation of the vessel, ongoing maintenance and refit work, insurance, fuel, food, and berthing fees, as well as essential safety equipment and regular inspections.
As a Community Interest Company, every pound is reinvested directly into Sail Training and maintaining Helen Mary R to the highest possible standard.
The true operating cost of a berth aboard Helen Mary R is approximately £120 per person, per day. The fee typically passed on to families is around £75 per person, per day, with the difference subsidised through volunteer contribution, fundraising, sponsorship, and careful financial management.
Even at this reduced rate, we recognise that the cost can still feel significant for some families. However, many voyages that initially seem out of reach become achievable through early planning, shared effort, and gradual fundraising.
At first, the cost felt like something we simply couldn’t manage. But once we started talking it through, breaking it down, and getting a bit of support and guidance, it became much more achievable than we expected. It wasn’t one thing that made it possible; it was a combination of small steps that added up.
Sarah, Parent
We do not hold a large central bursary fund, and we believe it is important to be transparent about this so expectations remain realistic.
Through our membership of the Association of Sail Training Organisations, we are sometimes able to access sector support such as the Hammond Innes Bursary, alongside occasional external grants and project-specific funding opportunities.
Demand for funding across the youth and charity sectors continues to grow, while available funding remains limited. As a result, bursaries alone are rarely able to cover the full cost of a voyage.
Where funding is available, it is allocated carefully and fairly based on individual circumstances and level of need. In most cases, bursaries form part of a wider funding approach rather than fully funding a berth.
Fundraising plays an important role in making many voyages possible.
We encourage young people and families to work together to raise funds through community events, sponsorship, local support, and shared initiatives. In many cases, fundraising becomes part of the wider journey itself, building commitment, confidence, teamwork, and ownership before the voyage even begins.
In 2024, families taking part in one of our longest expeditions worked alongside Morvargh on funding applications to reduce the cost from more than £2,000 per person to around £460 per young person. This was achieved not through a single grant but through shared effort, local support, and steady progress over time.
Often, the most successful fundraising comes from simple, well-organised community efforts backed by friends, family, schools, employers, and local organisations.
We do not expect families to navigate this process alone. From the outset, we offer guidance, encouragement, and practical support wherever we reasonably can.
If funding is a concern, we strongly encourage you to contact us as early as possible.
These conversations are always supportive and without judgment. Many families begin by feeling uncertain about whether a voyage is financially possible, and many go on to find workable solutions through planning, fundraising, and shared support.
The earlier we talk, the more options we can explore together.
Bursary applications are completed after your initial application, as part of the Crew Declaration process. We encourage you to apply for any funds for which you meet the criteria; each is designed to support young people in different circumstances. The following bursaries are currently available:
Fund Criteria:
A test fund
This fund is linked to the following voyage: - Isles of Scilly Adventure
Discover your next adventure at sea. Join one of our life-changing Sail Training voyages and unlock confidence, teamwork, and resilience through real experience.
Follow Helen Mary R in near real time as she sails around the coast. See where we are now and be part of the journey from wherever you are.
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