Penarth-based educational and sail training charity Challenge Wales, has scooped an Environmental Excellence Award for its work in sustainability at an industry conference in Portsmouth.

The Environmental Excellence Award was awarded by the UK Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO) and recognises the work that the Challenge Wales Charity has done over the last couple of years.

Since Challenge Wales launched its Agored Cymru accredited environmental project, the charity has been going from strength to strength raising awareness of sustainability and ocean literacy amongst young people, adult sailors, supporters and its volunteers through collaboration and sharing learning.

Mark Todd, CEO of UK Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO) said: "ASTO are delighted to award the Environmental Excellence award to Challenge Wales. We were particularly impressed with their collaboration with local organisations such as the Severn Estuary partnership and Cardiff University to improve their environmental credentials. Not only are they including science and environment in their sailing programmes; they are also using this to raise wider awareness of the valuable work Sail Training does in creating opportunities for young people."

ASTO CEO Mark Todd congratulating Founder and Trustee of Challenge Wales, Vicky Williams on winning the Environmental Excellence Award. Picture by Max Mudie - ASTO.

Challenge Wales has recently launched the nationally recognised John Muir Environmental Award which is aimed at increasing knowledge of environmental awareness. The Charity also undertakes citizen science activities with Plymouth University looking at water visibility and Portsmouth University undertaking microplastic surveys and bringing science to life. In addition, a shore-based 'Sea and Tell' programme was launched introducing young people to ocean literacy & marine litter and increasing knowledge of STEM subjects and local geography.

Founder and Trustee of Challenge Wales, Vicky Williams said: "Winning the Environmental Excellence Award is a great recognition of what we have been doing in the world of sustainability. The world of ocean literacy has certainly opened up young people's eyes to the issues facing the world and inspiring them to think about their future".

Challenge Wales has an exciting sail training programme planned for 2023 that young people and groups can be part of, with bursary funding available to support many young people aged 12 – 25 years. Combining innovative outdoor learning for 12 – 25 year olds and an adult-only adventure sailing programme, the predominantly volunteer-run sail training Charity in Cardiff Bay has been integrating ocean literacy, accredited learning and life-skills development to change the lives of young people with amazing results for over 13 years.