A GROUP of teenagers are dreaming of a working life on the open seas after visiting a Royal Navy vessel moored on the banks of the Tyne.
 It was all aboard for the youngsters from Target 20, a project organised by Blue Venture, the South Tyneside Education Business Partnership, as they headed up the gangway of HMS Example for a tour of the ship and an interactive session about life in the Navy. And each member of the South Shields-based group has the chance to return to the vessel for a voyage mission in September. They are to pit their wits against each other and demonstrate their presentation skills to see which five of them will be selected to experience a full operational day at sea. “It’s always a pleasure to show people around HMS Example and to explain a little about what we do here in Newcastle,” said Lieutenant Commander Caroline Wyness. “The students from Target 20 were certainly interested and asked lots of relevant questions. “Several were keen to learn more and we hope to be able to take some of them to sea with us in the autumn.” Blue Venture’s Target 20 project aims to raise school pupils’ confidence and self-esteem, increase their motivation to achieve and give them career ideas and direction. Using mentors from North East businesses, the students are working together in teams of five and six to meet 20 target activities mapped out by an online jigsaw. Subjects covered include marketing, branding, advertising, pricing and market research. Blue Venture project manager Keith Newman added: “Caroline herself is a fine role model for our students to look up to, a local girl who has forged a Navy career, moved swiftly up the ranks and travelled all over the world. “The initial visit to HMS Example has given them all an experience they wouldn’t usually get, and perhaps one or two of them now have an inkling about careers in the services. “So now we’re devising a presentation based competition which will draw on the business skills they’re learning through the Target 20 project. “We’ll select the best five to go aboard the boat for a full day’s sailing in September, which will give them a real insight into what the Royal Navy is all about.” HMS Example is an Archer-class patrol and training vessel based at HMS Calliope, next to the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. It is attached to the Northumbrian URNU and has a crew of five, plus up to 12 students. The ship takes part in deployments to give students an opportunity to spend a longer amount of time living on board the ship and to experience larger scale naval operations. For further information about Target 20 call Keith Newman on 07814 397 951 or email keith@all-youryesterdays.co.uk | 
Northumberland
