The project will help address national priorities on youth unemployment by supporting the £1billion "Youth Contract" programme which aims to harness the experience from all sectors to make sure we get it right on youth unemployment, but as Chris Grayling pointed out "We can't do this alone" (Chris Grayling, Employment Minister, 2012). At a local level the project will help Portsmouth's Local Strategic Partnership achieve its first objective - "to improve opportunity and achievement in education"

The project will help by being an innovative collaborative partnership between the NAS and other local organizations providing opportunities for training in maritime skills and work experience placements and volunteering. If successful it could be replicated in other maritime cities facing problems of youth unemployment. The project aims to get over 50% of its participants into work placements, employment or onto further education. Scuba Scholars will become a charity itself within 3 years.