Teenagers are given a taste of naval life
A group of lads from troubled backgrounds have been put through their paces at a navy training base in a bid to keep them on the straight and narrow.
HMS Collingwood in Fareham hosted 16 boys from Dreamwall, a charity that supports young people from the area with behavioural or social difficulties, or who are at risk of offending.
Over a weekend the youngsters were put through tough early morning runs around the base and a gruelling three-and-a-half-hour gym session with physical trainer Matt Philips.
Staff from the leadership academy, including Warrant Officer Pippa Routledge, Chief Petty Officer Tim Cordery, Petty Officer Stirling Moss and Petty Officer Marie Marshall volunteered to help.
Lieutenant Rachel Smallwood, from the SO3 coaching advisory team, has been volunteering with Dreamwall for the past year and organised the weekend.
She said: 'Each of these boys has so much potential, but without the support and guidance of parents, it is easy for them to take the wrong road in life.
'Dreamwall is a fantastic organisation that gives these young people a chance to make it. I wanted to use this weekend as an opportunity to show them they have choices, and they can make the positive choices.'
The majority of children who Dreamwall work with are in care and have not had a stable family upbringing.
Over the two days, the lads discussed the importance of leadership, professional standards, courage in adversity, determination, loyalty, mutual respect, discipline, and a sense of humour.
Captain Colin Wellborn, youth chief of staff, spent time with the boys in the sports and recreation centre at the base on the Sunday, and saw a short drill display, a discussion about the naval ethos and a prize-giving. He said: 'Meeting those guys made my day and I am keen to see what else we could do to help.'
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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