The RYA Foundation is the charitable arm of the RYA. It has the objective of making boating more accessible to everyone, regardless of circumstance.
Introduction
The RYA first created its own charity in the form of RYA Sailability in 1995 with a mission to make sailing accessible to people with disabilities. The charity did this by endorsing 'foundation sites' - clubs and groups whose facilities and volunteers reached a satisfactory standard - and by working with the RYA to open up its training and racing programmes to people with disabilities. By late 2012, it was felt that the charity had substantially achieved its mission: and that the RYA’s delivery mechanism – the RYA Sailability Programme – was providing all the advice and support that the foundation sites and other sailing providers needed. This Programme was well funded by Sport England, other charities and the RYA itself.
In 2013, the RYA’s Board of Directors decided to expand its charitable efforts into an ‘RYA Foundation’ with the object of: “the promotion of participation in boating by those who are disadvantaged by reason of youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances”. The RYA Sailability charity was transformed into the RYA Foundation in December 2013, with revised company Articles and the new, wider Objects.
The RYA Foundation remains a company limited by guarantee and the sole member is the RYA. The RYA appoints the directors/trustees of the Foundation and the trustees are: Richard Langford (Chairman), Peter Gray, Simon Barter and Debbie Blachford. HRH The Princess Royal is the Patron of the new charity. The Foundation does not employ any staff. The trustees and company secretary are all volunteers and administrative support is provided to them by the staff of the RYA.
The Foundation’s Vision
The trustees’ vision for the Foundation is: “A world where boating is accessible to everyone, regardless of circumstance”. This implies a wide remit, and the trustees are conscious that the best results are likely to come from partnering other charities, individuals and organisations in the promotion and delivery of boating to the target audience. However, the Foundation is a facilitator and instrument of change, rather than a boating provider itself. It operates mainly by making grants to organisations whose activities will lead directly to a sustained increase in boating participation by those who are disadvantaged in life by reason of disability or other circumstances.
Beneficiaries
To find out more about some of the organisations the Foundation has been able to help click here
Grants
To apply for a grant from the RYA Foundation please read the attached Grant Guidelines before completing a Grant Application Form.
Applications for grants up to £3000 may be submitted at any time and will be processed by the Trustees on receipt.
Applications for grants over £3000 are considered at the next Trustees meeting. This date will be advised following receipt of a grant application.
RYA Foundation Grant Application Form
RYA Foundation Grant Guidelines
For all queries regarding available grants, or to submit an application please contact:
Email: info@ryafoundation.org
Tel: 023 8060 4271
Making a donation
With donations and volunteers we can:
- Help make boating a way of life for everyone regardless of circumstance.
- Offer technical advice and support
- Offer advice about boats and safety issues
- Train and provide sailing instructors
Donate by Post
Please send a cheque made payable to 'RYA Foundation' to: RYA, RYA House, Ensign Way, Hamble, SO31 4YA. Gift Aid may be authorised by UK Taxpayers.
Online
Donations may be made via our RYA Foundation page at Virgin Money Giving
Will and legacies
If you have already made a Will, but would like to leave a gift to RYA Foundation, you can do so by making a simple addition to your existing Will, called a codicil. By adding this supplement to your will you can include new instructions and delete old ones without having to go through the task of revoking the whole Will.
Contact Us
For any queries to the RYA Foundation please email the Royal Yachting Association:
Email: info@ryafoundation.org
Thank you for generously donating to the RYA Foundation.
The RYA Foundation Charity Commission Number: 1084351
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