Project Rough Seas
Catch 22 is an organisation that supports children and young people in Britain.
This year, they have given 60 young people aged 16 - 25 years-old the opportunity of a lifetime.
The project is supported by the prime minister, David Cameron, also Ben Fogle and many other famous names.
Neil Laughton, an ex-SAS soldier who has participated in many expeditions including climbing Everest is leading the project.
Project Rough Seas involves two training weekends, one in South Downs, the other in Snowdon and also a training week in Scotland, Loch Tay. After learning new skills such as how to put up a tent, cooking on a camp stove, survival techniques and also climbing the biggest mountain in England and Wales, Mount Snowdon, the 60 young people are whittled down to 36 to set out on an unforgettable expedition.
The expedition involves the selected young people camping in the Norwegian mountains and living off the land for a week. During this week, the adventurers will have to catch fish with locals and cook it for super.
On the second phase of the expedition they will travel down to Sweden and aboard the tall ship. The young people then sail north around the Norwegian coast and then back home to London. The last part of the journey involves the lifting of the London Bridge so that the tall ship is allowed to sail down the Thames.
After the physical part of the project, all 60 young people are luckily enough to be placed in work placements for six months after the final expedition.
I was lucky to be accepted after applying to this project and since May have been participating in the training weekends. So far I've been to South Downs, Brighton and Snowdon. As I am writing this, I am en route to Scotland (yawn).
I have kept a written diary of the weekends and will continue with the diary in Scotland. I will write them up as soon as possible and upload them for all to see! Hopefully I will be writing another diary if I manage to secure a place to Norway. Fingers crossed!
