THE owner of a boat intended to help disadvantaged youngsters learn valuable life skills has made a desperate plea for funding.

Karen Passmore, right, used her life savings to buy the Lief but has a real fear that the 40ft yacht will never realise the goal she imagined for it.

The 61-year-old from Southmead spent £30,000 with the aim of giving the boat to Bristol's disadvantaged young adults to try life on the water and be given the chance to train for qualifications, such as yacht master, which they can use anywhere in the world.

The Evening Post awarded Ms Passmore a Gold Star award for her efforts and Bristol round-the-world yachtsman Tony Bullimore agreed to be patron of her organisation.

But despite recent donations from Tony and Josie Worthington, through charity Excel 96, Ms Passmore said more funds are needed to get the project off the ground.

Ms Passmore, who has multiple sclerosis, said: "I'm worried that we won't get the funds to finish the boat and it would be tragic if this beautiful boat was left here or taken out of Bristol.

"From April we need to find more than £3,000 for the mooring fees and then we also need to finish off the boat with life rafts, a cooker, fridge, freezer, anchor and new ropes. Everything on a boat costs money and it is never ending really.

"But it makes such great economic sense to get this project going. You can't make children learn in school if they don't want to, putting children in care costs hundreds a week, and what do they have at the end of it?

"We can take up to 56 kids out a week and it's cheaper than the cost of putting them in care. It's different from learning these skills in a classroom. They can't be committing crime or taking drugs out on the water and we can give them the chance to get qualifications which will set them up to work anywhere in the world.

"This can teach kids all sorts of skills and I just think it makes sense."

The Worthingtons saw Ms Passmore's story in the Post and decided to help through the charity they work for, which is based in Clevedon.

The work on the boat has all been done by Ms Passmore and her team of helpers but she says her own money has run out.

To donate to the charity, visit www.breakfreefoundation.org or contact Ms Passmore on 0771 211 0934.