Last week, Phil Sheepy of FSL Projects took part in a Royal Navy Sea Scout Camp at HMS Sultan, where he led the RN Experience – a programme combining STEM projects and Practical Leadership Tasks (PLT) – and supported paddle sports for over 110 scouts and explorers.

The experience gave Phil a rare opportunity to reflect on past and future decisions, while also witnessing the positive impact of creating a space where young people could thrive, learn, and simply be themselves. His involvement, though modest in his eyes, played a role in helping the scouts develop confidence and leadership in a relaxed, screen-light environment.

With mobile phones only permitted for a short time each evening, the camp encouraged genuine engagement and hands-on learning. The scouts used screens only for coding activities related to Lego-built Royal Naval vessels – and Phil even picked up some coding skills himself, proving you can teach an old dog new tricks.

Despite a week of wet and windy weather, the camp spirit never faltered. Everyone rallied together, rebuilding tents and supporting each other through the elements. For Phil, the true value of the week was in the quality time spent with his two sons and the shared sense of achievement with the wider group.

If Phil hadn’t taken part in the camp, he would have likely been at work, perhaps only taking a few days off. But with his two sons also attending, it became a valuable chance to spend quality time together. Both his boys – along with the other scouts – gained a huge amount from the experience. For Phil, it was immensely rewarding and offered a rare opportunity to regroup and focus on what really matters in life.

At FSL Projects, CSR isn’t treated as a formality – it’s embraced as an opportunity to give back, grow personally, and stay grounded in what really matters.