A Lowestoft high school is raising money to fund an amazing voyage for a group of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.

East Point Academy hopes to send 10 students on a once-in-a-lifetime voyage aboard an historic fishing smack, sailing from Denmark to Lowestoft.

Some of the students taking part in the trip aboard the Lowestoft-based trawler, the Excelsior, have special educational needs while others have faced challenges such as having low self-esteem or being in care.

On board the Excelsior they will take on vital roles such as hoisting sails, navigating, steering, cooking, and cleaning, as the boat sails across the North Sea, through the Danish fjords, and along the coasts of Holland and Germany.

The trip fund has received generous donations from several organisations in the region, including £2,500 from The Norfolk Boat charity, £500 from Sentinel Leisure Trust, £400 from Broadlands Park holiday village owners Tingdene and £200 from construction company Wellington.

The students are hoping to raise a further £1,600 with a sponsored climb in which they aim to rack up 1000m of ascents on an indoor climbing wall.

Group leader Chantalle Calver said: 'This is going to be an amazing trip. These pupils have never done anything like this before in their lives – half of them had never even applied for a passport before.

'We are super excited and can't wait to get started.'

Students and staff will be collecting money during the sponsored climb at the Waterlane Leisure Centre, Water Lane, Lowestoft from 10am to noon on Saturday, June 30.

Donations can also be made at East Point Academy in Kirkley Run, Lowestoft during school hours.