FUNDING YOUR VOYAGE
The Morning Star Trust is committed to making sure that sailing is accessible to everyone and we heavily subsidise the costs of our voyages for young people through our fundraising. For example, a five-day voyage costs MST £730 per person to run, but we only charge £400.
If you can’t sail with is simply because of the cost, the first thing to do is to contact us as we may know of additional funding you can access and will be able to advise you on what to do. These additional funds are normally means-tested, which means that the funding organisation will want to know your situation.
We recommend that you book and pay your deposit before applying for bursaries as most bursary providers expect you to show commitment. In extraordinary cases we can reserve voyage places without deposit, please contact us.
We have our own bursary fund you can apply to
Morning Star Trust Under 26's Bursary
Every year we fundraise to provide additional support to young people (15-25) sailing with us. We may be able to part fund your voyage with us if you are 25 or under and would struggle to pay for your voyage.
Other organisations that provide bursaries that may also be able to help you include:
Support may be offered to young people who are 16 to 25 years old and would not usually be able to afford the voyage.
The Seven Seas Club Baxter & Grimshaw Trust
Support may be offered young people who are under 25 and have come from a disadvantaged background (i.e. in care, low income family, single parent family etc.) Contact grantsec@ssbgtrust.com for more information.
Assists disadvantaged children and young people to attend Christian holidays and conferences, who without financial help would be unable to attend.
Assists with items or activities to help children and youth with emotional, social or educational needs including sports and leisure activities. They provide grants for children aged 18 or under living with parents or carers, or young people aged 20 or under who are living independently and are estranged or orphaned. grants are designed for those dealing with the impact of a variety of issues ranging from, but not limited to: kinship care arrangements, domestic abuse, estrangement, physical and mental ill health, and substance abuse.
Grants are only for children under the age of 18 living in the UK, or registered charities that help children from the UK. If you are unsure whether you can apply please contact the Cash for Kids team at info@cashforkids.uk.com
New bursary opportunities are regularly promoted on the Sail Training International "Sail on Board" Website.
Bursary providers typically expect participants to contribute to their voyage. Fundraising ideas and advice from the Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO) can be found here
You are responsible for paying the difference between any awarded bursaries and the voyage fee and for paying your voyage fee if you are unsuccessful in gaining a bursary award.