Bayleigh Funnel

In 2022, Bayleigh, a young person from Cowes Enterprise College on the Isle of Wight, stepped onto UKSA’s campus for the very first time to take part in the Maritime Futures programme. At the time, she was unsure of her future and uncertain about what career direction to take. But that initial week at UKSA proved to be a turning point, igniting her passion for the maritime industry and setting her firmly on the path toward a potential career in the Royal Navy.

“I worked in watersports, took every opportunity I could, earned my certificates, got good grades, and explored opportunities in the industry. I really enjoyed watersports.”

After taking part in the Maritime Futures programme, Bayleigh realised that success doesn’t have to come through traditional education alone.

Through UKSA’s hands-on, experience-based learning on the NCFE Diploma in Outdoor and Adventurous Activities and Maritime Advanced Programme 2 at UKSA, Bayleigh found a different approach that worked for her.

She began developing valuable practical skills, earned industry-recognised qualifications in watersports, and most importantly, started to believe in herself.

Bayleigh thrived in the active, outdoor environment. She gained not just technical abilities but life skills, resilience, teamwork, and a new sense of self-confidence that had previously felt out of reach. “Gaining the confidence to just go for it was a big step. I haven’t always been overly confident. But I’ve changed a lot from where I started in the first year to where I am now in the second.”

One particularly influential experience came when she had the chance to sail with the Ocean Youth Trust, an opportunity that further cemented her sense of belonging on the water. “I much preferred sailing and watersports to being in a classroom. Being out on the water was so much better suited to me. I did the Maritime Futures programme for a week, which really opened my eyes. I didn’t know what I wanted to do at the time, but that experience set me on the path – now I’m seriously considering a future in the Navy.”

Bayleigh’s time at UKSA has transformed her into a confident, focused individual with a clear sense of direction. Her journey is a powerful example of how outdoor learning, combined with the right support, can change a young person’s life.

“My advice to others thinking about joining a further education course at UKSA Explore both options of the course – look into what each path offers. If you enjoy being out on the water, staying active, and don’t like the classroom environment, it’s a great route to go down. There’s so much more out there than you might think.”

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