Excelsior Trust Announces Travel Bursary for Young Trainees

The Excelsior Trust, the award-winning sail training charity based in Lowestoft, is proud to launch a new travel bursary to support young people in joining its sail training programmes across Europe during the 2025 season.

This exciting initiative, named The John Miller Bursary, aims to help young trainees cover travel costs, ensuring that financial barriers don’t prevent them from accessing the life-changing opportunities offered aboard Excelsior.

An Award-Winning Charity Making Waves

In 2024, the Excelsior Trust made history by becoming the first UK sail training charity to win the Sultan Qaboos Sailing Trophy, the most prestigious award in international sail training. This accolade underscores the Trust’s dedication to empowering young people through maritime experiences.

Sailing the 2025 Tall Ships Races

During the 2025 season, Excelsior will once again take part in the International Tall Ships Races, visiting ports including:

• Le Havre, France
• Dunkirk, France
• Aberdeen, Scotland
• Kristiansand, Norway
• Esbjerg, Denmark

This bursary ensures that as many young people as possible can join these exciting voyages, gaining invaluable life skills and unforgettable experiences.

Honouring John Miller’s Legacy

The bursary is named in memory of John Miller, who dedicated his life to coaching young people in sports. The fund was established with an initial donation from his family, reflecting his passion for supporting young talent.

A spokesperson for the Trust said:

"Last year, we realised that travel costs occasionally prohibited young people from joining our sailing programme. Thanks to the generosity of John Miller’s family, we can now offer this bursary and ensure more young people can benefit from these transformative experiences. We welcome further donations to grow the fund and reach even more participants."

Support a Young Trainee

The Excelsior Trust invites donations to the bursary fund, including sponsorships for individual young trainees to join legs of the Tall Ships Races or other voyages planned for the season.

Get Involved

To learn more about the bursary or to make a donation, contact us at:
📧 sailing@excelsiortrust.co.uk
📞 07821 281950

For further details, visit our website:
🌐 www.theexcelsiortrust.co.uk

Together, let’s ensure that every young person has the chance to set sail on an adventure of a lifetime.