RYA Foundation Fund

The RYA Foundation seeks to promote participation in boating by those who are disadvantaged by reason of youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances. Organisations and groups that share this aim may apply for grants under the following broad headings:

• Recruitment and training of staff and volunteers;
• Purchase of boats and boating equipment;
• Development of infrastructure to support boating;
• Development and delivery of boating programmes, projects and activities.

These categories are not prescriptive, and applications may cover more than one heading.

Who can apply?

RYA-affiliated sailing clubs and centres, and other organisations that are seeking to develop their facilities or programmes for disadvantaged people, may apply for grant funding. Organisations should have a recognised governing document (such as a trust deed or constitution) and a formal management committee. They may be registered charities, charitable companies, or members-only clubs, and are expected to have in place suitable policies for such matters as health and safety. Where they work with young or vulnerable people they must have appropriate safeguarding policies and procedures. We do not award grants to organisations that aim to distribute a profit, statutory bodies or individuals

Please be aware that the Foundation has limited resources and the trustees are unable to approve all of the applications that they receive. They concentrate their grants on activities that will lead directly to a sustained increase in boating participation by their target audience.

For more information on the fund, please visit - RYA Foundation Fund