A Flying Start
In 2022, the Seaview Sailing Trust was formally established as an independent charity — and in our very first year, we delivered 977 free sailing lessons to 167 children from 6 East Wight primary schools. Every child worked towards their RYA Dinghy Level 1 or 2 certificate. It was just the beginning, but the ambition was clear from day one: to reach every primary school child across the Isle of Wight.
The Isle of Wight draws visitors from across the country for its coastline and sailing waters — yet many of the children who grow up here have never been in a boat, and some have never even been to the beach. The island is home to some of the most deprived communities in the UK. The Seaview Sailing Trust exists to change that, one child at a time.
Chair’s Report
As I reflect on the first year of the Seaview Sailing Trust, I feel very proud of what we have achieved, especially the opportunities and experiences we have provided to many Year 5 primary school children from across East Wight. The Isle of Wight provides so many holidaymakers with wonderful experiences on land and sea but at the same time it is home to some of the UK’s most deprived communities. It is the children in these communities that we want to reach. Many have never been in a boat or even to the beach. They have never experienced the exhilaration of sailing or the fun of capsizing a dinghy. That is what we want to change.
Andrea Minton Beddoes, ChairEach child receives a term’s worth of weekly half-day sailing lessons at the Sea View Yacht Club. They finish with RYA certificates and, more importantly, they build their self-confidence, expand their communication skills and broaden their horizons.
Fundraising Update
Since its creation in March 2022, the Seaview Sailing Trust has been strongly supported by the community of Seaview and members of the Sea View Yacht Club. A launch event held at the Club in April 2022 helped finalise the funding for the 2022 programme.
The main fundraising event was a garden party for over 200 people. To raise awareness of the work of the charity, ticket prices were set at £27 each — the cost of each individual sailing lesson provided to the children in 2022. We set a target of £30,000, but actually doubled that figure after receiving generous matched funding support.
