A STUDENT will be embarking on a tall ships voyage as a buddy to a disabled crew member in an initative to bring together abled and disabled youngsters.

Bacup's Ella Smyth, 17, will board the Lord Nelson ship next week one of only two vessels in the world specially adapted to house a crew of mixed physical abilities.

The Bacup and Rawten-stall Grammar School student will set sail from Gran Canaria on February 18 with the Jubilee Sailing Trust under their youth scheme.

And her dad, Graham, is supporting her venture by organisng a cabaret evening tonight.

Ella, who is taking part in the voyage as part of her Duke of Edinburgh's gold award, will turn 18 while at sea.

The Trust subsidises her place on board, but expects youth scheme members to raise cash towards their costs.

She said: "I'm really looking forward to the trip which, as well as being a fantastic adventure for me, means I can give someone else the chance to have this experience.

"For my gold award, I had to find a residential activity with people I didn't already know. I was told about this, and it seemed ideal."

Dad Graham, who is a performance poet in his spare time, had the idea of holding a cabaret evening to help with fundraising.

He said: "I perform poetry myself, and also know lots of performers who I could call on so I thought it would be a good way to support what Ella is doing."

The line-up includes Prestwich poet Tony Walsh, a performer at the 2005 Glastonbury Festival along with Bury rapper O2 and acts performing everything from rap to a barbershop quartet.

A Trust spokesman said: "The charity aims to promote the integration of people of all physical abilities through the challenge and adventure of tall ship sailing."

The cabaret takes place at The Mosses Centre, Cecil Street, Bury, tonight at 8pm. doors open 7.30pm. Admission is £5 and £3 concessions.