A group of young people on Nacro’s Army Preparation course in Leeds have raised over £2,000 for charity after rowing the equivalent of the English Channel.

The group of seventeen along with three staff members, covered the distance on rowing machines set up at St. Johns and White Rose shopping centres. The money went to the charity Help for Heroes which supports members of the Armed Forces who have been wounded.

Chris Morgan runs the course from Nacro’s Meanwood Training Centre. He says: “Charity work is an important part of the Army Preparation course. The learners chose Help for Heroes themselves because of the forces connection. It’s a charity that means a lot to our young people as many of them will be joining the army once they leave here.”

The Nacro Army Preparation course is aimed at young people who have been unable to stay in mainstream education due to a range of educational, personal and social problems. The scheme is designed to improve fitness, confidence, numeracy and literacy skills in order to help them progress into a career in the Army.