THERE WAS double cause for celebration yesterday as national youth charity Fairbridge celebrated the first birthday of its Dundee centre, and a crew of young people newly arrived in the city told of their experiences after sailing nearly 1000 miles on the organisation’s pilot schooner.

Usually based in the west of Scotland, the 92-ft Spirit of Fairbridge is moored in Dundee harbour and members of the public can see around it from 2-4 pm today.

A replica of a Victorian pilot schooner used to guide large merchant ships into the port of Liverpool, Spirit now helps provide a safe passage through troubled waters for its crews—youngsters who work with Fairbridge to overcome problems from drugs to homelessness, bullying to long-term unemployment.

Fairbridge works with inner city youngsters aged 13-25 at its 13 centres throughout the UK. In Dundee it was temporarily based at the Ancrum Outdoor Centre, but now has its own premises in Kemback Street. Local companies and organisations donated goods, services and sponsorship.

Yesterday, at a reception in the Hilton Hotel attended by supporters, interested agencies and Fairbridge staff from all over the country, Dundee manager Jason Cummings said, “To date, over 100 young people have been involved with the organisation in Dundee, which works with other agencies to provide personally tailored programmes.”

Spirit of Fairbridge, the only sail training ship in the UK run as part of a long-term project, throws young people together for 24 hours a day as they face the challenges of the sea, plotting their own course, steering and raising sails, with the guidance of staff.

Eight Dundee youngsters have been on the boat. This last trip from Southampton to Dundee via Denmark had a seven-strong crew from all over the UK for the 18-day journey. A video shown at the reception showed the reactions of the crew to the journey. The youngsters also took visitors to Dundee harbour to show them round the ship.