Sailing Club Grants

Funding the Future 2018/19

Funding The Future is Sunsail’s way of giving back to sailing’s grassroots. First launched in 2016 to give UK sailing and yacht clubs the opportunity to pitch for £5,000 to support their club. From improving club facilities and equipment to attracting youth and sailability participation, this initiative is open to all clubs across the UK and our panel of Sunsail experts are looking forward to this year’s entries.

We love our sport and think everyone who wants to have a go should get the chance. Sailing and yacht clubs make sailing accessible for millions of people, but often lack the funding they need. Funding the Future is now open for applicants to win up to £5000, so spread the word and make sure your entry is sent before Thursday 28 February 2019.

Win up to £5,000 to invest in your club

• First prize – £5,000

The winning club will be awarded £5,000 to invest in your winning pitch. You will also get the chance to meet Ian Walker MBE, who will come to your clubhouse for a live Q&A subject to availability.

• Runners-up prizes – £2,000 

There will be two runners-up prizes of £2,000 to invest in their club. 

• University clubs prize – £1,000

A separate prize will be issued to one University Sailing Club. The most deserving university club will win £1,000 to invest.

• All applicants –  15% off Sunsail sailing holidays

If you are 18 years old or more and member of a sailing or yacht club in the United Kingdom, you can benefit from 15% off your Sunsail sailing holiday booking. All you need to do is to speak to one of our holiday planners, quote ‘SSSYC’ and name your sailing or yacht club where you are a member. You must have proof of your sailing club membership when booking your holiday.

Terms and conditions apply.

Applications

Who can apply?

Any sailing or yacht club based in the United Kingdom can apply. If your club could benefit from funding, all you need to do is submit your entry telling us what you would spend the money on and why your club deserves to win. Be sure to include as much detail as you can to ensure our judges give your application the attention it deserves. 

Only one entry allowed per sailing club. 

How do I enter?

• One person from your club will take responsibility for filling out and submitting the entry. This person needs to be a member of your club and must be over 18 years old.
• Download the application form below and fill it out (Max Word count per entry: 500 words)
• Once your application ready, the lead person may submit in three ways;

1. You can upload your application using the form on the side panel 
2. Return the form by post to:  Funding the Future c/o Sunsail, DST House, St Marks Hill, Surbiton, KT6 4BH
3. Email the completed form to sailingclubs@sunsail.com

How will we pick the winner

Our team will shortlist the best entries using the criteria below. Our panel of carefully selected judges will then review the shortlist. 

To have the best chance of winning, cross check your entry against the criteria below as the judges will access your entry against the following;

• Driving new memberships
• Improving club facilities 
• Improve sailing equipment 
• Promoting youth and/or sailability sailing 
• Improving sailing skills
• Novelty and innovation

Previous judging panels have included Dee Caffari MBE, Ian Walker MBE and Helena Lucas MBE.

2017/18 Winning Club

Burwain Sailing Club from Lancashire.

(Emily Whiting Photography)

Set on the edge of the former mill towns of Colne and Burnley, the members of Burwain Sailing Club sail on a 90-acre reservoir. The club wanted to attract more young sailors and families from the diverse local community and proposed they would spend the £5,000 Funding the Future grant to buy a small fleet of pre-used optimists to bolster their junior sailing programme and encourage children from the age of six to learn to sail. 

“We are so grateful to Sunsail for setting up this funding opportunity. I’m sure that most clubs, like ourselves, rely on club volunteers to run their training and introduce new sailors to our sport. Funding like this helps provide the equipment that clubs need – in our case some junior boats. More juniors mean more families, who are the bedrock of sailing clubs, and we will be wasting no time in acquiring some additional craft to help with our 2018 junior school sailing program. So my message to other clubs is: don’t miss out on next year’s competition. It’s quick to enter – just be honest, be unique and have a viable and achievable goal.” Peter Dewhurst from Burwain Sailing Club

The judges found this entry to be achievable and believed it would make a lasting difference to the club, helping to bolster membership numbers and youth participation. We look forward to seeing the club benefit from the project. 

Enter today

If your club has a project or initiative that could make a real difference and benefit from extra funding, start planning your application to Sunsail’s Funding the Future initiative.

Entries will be accepted from Friday 14 September 2018 and close at midnight on 28 February 2019. We plan to announce the Winner at London on the Water on Saturday 10 May 2019.  Read all terms and conditions

Good luck!

Find out more

To find out more about Funding the Future, as well as what else we can do for your sailing club, contact Lucy Wade on 07973 693149  and sign up to our newsletter. 

Sailing clubs are more relevant than ever and you might find our dedicated blog article inspiring. Read blog

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