Play worker Chris Simpson is swapping his work with toddlers for life on the ocean waves after winning a place as crewman for a Tall Ships race.

The 17-year-old grew up on the Allerton estate, Bradford, where he is now a community worker and helps look after children at an out-of-school club.

He gives up his spare time to work with youngsters in a venture scout group backed by a Barnardo's project.

And he has so impressed the older professionals working on the estate that he was nominated for the nautical adventure.

"I've never been abroad before, never been on a boat and I'm scared of heights," said Chris, a former pupil at Dixons City Technology College, Bradford. "I'll be starting from scratch."

He will be a crew member on the 72-foot long Arethusa, for the cruise from New York to Canada next month.

He is one of just a handful of young people selected by the nationwide Barnardo's charity to benefit from the trip.

"On the application form I put down that I did a lot of voluntary work, and that I had good communication skills that I wanted to put to the test," said Chris, whose mother and four brothers and sisters also live in Allerton.

"Afterwards, I can come back and share my experiences."

Andy Robertson, scheme co-ordinator at the Barnardo's Bradford Community Scheme on the estate, said: "Chris is really mature for his age and has a good head on his shoulders. He has lots of energy and ideas and wants to get up and do things, which is brilliant to see.

"The trip is a once in a lifetime opportunity for him and he's chuffed about it."

Chris has also just landed a new job working part time for Bradford Council as a health outreach worker, assessing the health needs of people on the Allerton estate and developing new courses for local residents.

But he intends to carry on with his main job - working with children at the Allerton Family and Community Centre, Avenel Road.

"I really enjoy playing football with them, looking after them and finding them things to do," he said. "I'd like to go into youth work or social work later."

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