Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity: 1153060
• Annual Income: £3.14 million (2023/24)
• Total Reinvestment 2023: £15+ million
• Grant Range: £6,000 - £8,900 (organizational grants)
• Geographic Focus: International (8+ countries), UK emphasis
• Charitable Efficiency: 93p in every £1 goes to programmes
• Grant Types: Organizational grants, individual subsidies, instructor training grants
• International Scope: Grants distributed via national sailing federations or direct application

Contact Details

Main Office

Osprey Quay, Portland, Dorset, DT5 1SA

Phone: +44 (0)300 124 0449

Email: enquiries@andrewsimpsonfoundation.org

Website: andrewsimpsonfoundation.org

Grant Applications

Individual Subsidies: hermione@andrewsimpsonfoundation.org

Volunteer Instructor Training: lindsay@andrewsimpsonfoundation.org / 01305 457077

Philanthropy & Development

Caroline Slocock, Head of Philanthropy: caroline@andrewsimpsonfoundation.org

Sally Turner, Chief Development Officer: sally@andrewsimpsonfoundation.org

Overview

Founded in 2013 following the tragic death of Olympic sailor Andrew “Bart” Simpson, the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation transforms lives through sailing and watersports. With total assets exceeding £15 million reinvested in 2023, the foundation operates through a dual model: delivering programmes through five Andrew Simpson Centres (Portland, Portsmouth, Reading, Birmingham, and Plymouth) while also making grants to external organizations supporting disabled sailing and youth access to watersports.

The foundation has supported over 160,000 individuals to get on the water since its inception and operates internationally, having pledged over £600,000 across sailing projects in 8 countries. In 2023, the foundation received the World Sailing President's Development Award, recognizing organizations that strive to grow and develop sailing nationally or internationally. The foundation's organizes Bart's Bash, the world's largest sailing race, which has seen participation from 1,092 clubs across 62 countries to raise funds for grassroots sailing initiatives globally.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Disabled Sailing Grants (International)

Amount: £6,000 - £8,900 (typical range)

Application: Annual application process (historical deadline: October 31st)

Distribution: Via national sailing federations or direct ASSF grants process

Supports grassroots disabled sailing projects globally. Eligible uses include:

• Club safety packs (buoyancy aids, waterproofs)
• Disability awareness training
• Ambassador visits
• Transport cost assistance to sailing venues
• Seed funding for equipment-related projects (not direct boat purchases)

Past recipients include: Mount Batten Watersports Centre (£6,000), London's Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre (£8,900), Blind Sailing UK, Chicago Park Districts Community Sailing Program, National Schools Sailing Association, Hungarian Yachting Association, and Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Sailing Association.

Individual Subsidies for Young People

Application: Rolling basis via form to hermione@andrewsimpsonfoundation.org

Scope: Activities at Andrew Simpson Watersports Centres only

Limit: Normally one subsidy per person per academic year

For young people prevented from participating in sailing/watersports due to financial constraints. The foundation aims to ensure more than 20% of courses and programmes are either free or heavily subsidized for those from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. Priority given to activity leading to regular participation and sustained benefit rather than one-off taster sessions.

Volunteer Instructor Training Grants

Investment: £46,000+ since 2017

Recipients: 99 RYA Dinghy and Senior Instructors funded

Contact: lindsay@andrewsimpsonfoundation.org

Supports committed individuals gaining instructor qualifications in return for volunteering hours. Applicants must:

• Plan to volunteer regularly or for 100+ hours at their local sailing club in the first year
• Complete minimum 1 year volunteering with end-of-year survey
• Not use the qualification for paid employment in the first year of qualifying

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

• Disabled and Paralympic sailing programs
• Breaking down barriers to sailing (financial, physical, learning disability, mental health, social)
• Youth development through watersports
• Underrepresented communities: lower socio-economic backgrounds, people with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, women and girls, older adults, faith groups, naval families

Strategic Themes:

• Health & Mental Wellbeing Programs
• Skills & Employability pathways
• Community Pride & Inclusion
• Climate Leadership and environmental protection
• Swim Free Programme (free swimming lessons)
• RNSA Go Sailing (courses for naval families)

What They Don't Fund

• Direct boat purchases (equipment seed funding considered)
• Activities outside their specified focus areas
• For individual subsidies: activities not at Andrew Simpson Watersports Centres
• One-off taster sessions without sustained engagement plans

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (12 Total)

Founding Trustees:

• Sir Charles Benedict Ainslie CBE - Four-time Olympic gold medallist, appointed 22 July 2013
• Iain Bryden Percy OBE - Olympic gold medallist, appointed 22 July 2013
• Leah Simpson - Andrew Simpson's wife, appointed 22 July 2013

Chair:

• Miles Arthur Bradbury - Appointed 13 February 2014

Other Trustees:

• Amanda Simpson (22 July 2013)
• David Tyler (22 July 2013)
• John Henry Derbyshire OBE (24 February 2014)
• Nicholas Blair Manny Harrison (21 March 2014)
• Prakash Paran (19 April 2018)
• Andrew Lawson (30 January 2020)
• David Martin Gratton (26 November 2020)
• Sophie Arabella Sheldon (04 July 2023)

Key Staff:

• Sally Turner - Chief Development Officer
• Caroline Slocock - Head of Philanthropy

Governance Note: No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The foundation employs 45 staff (one earning £90k-£100k) and is supported by 200 volunteers.

Key Quote

Iain Percy, ASSF Trustee, stated: “Bart was extremely passionate about the power that sailing has and that it should be accessible for all.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Disabled Sailing Organizational Grants:

• Download application form (PDF) from foundation website
• Complete with supporting documentation
• Submit to foundation by deadline
• Historical deadline: October 31st
• Results announced in New Year

Individual Subsidies:

• Download form from website
• Return completed form to hermione@andrewsimpsonfoundation.org
• Rolling basis consideration
• Most interested in funding leading to regular participation

Volunteer Instructor Training Grants:

• Contact lindsay@andrewsimpsonfoundation.org or phone 01305 457077
• Up to one placement per year per applying club
• Applications available through workplace development page

Decision Timeline

Organizational Grants: 2-3 months from October deadline to announcement in New Year

Individual Subsidies: Processing times not specified (rolling basis)

Volunteer Training Grants: Varies based on timing and course availability

Success Rates

Historical data shows 35 projects funded across 9 countries in first two grant rounds. Total of £600,000+ pledged across 8 countries. Specific success rates not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions documented. Given the rolling nature of individual subsidies and annual grant rounds for organizational funding, reapplication appears to be permitted.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values

Mission Alignment: The foundation is driven by belief that “all young people have the ability to excel and succeed in life and work” and that “every young person, regardless of background, should have access to the life-changing benefits of being on the water.”

Sustained Impact Over One-Off Activities: The foundation explicitly states they are “most interested in funding activity that will lead to regular participation and sustained benefit rather than one-off taster sessions.”

Breaking Down Barriers: Successful applications address financial, physical, learning disability, mental health, or social barriers to sailing access.

Grassroots Focus: International grant programme specifically targets “grassroots disabled sailing projects” and making sailing “more accessible.”

Community Benefit: Projects demonstrating clear benefit to underrepresented communities - particularly lower socio-economic backgrounds, people with disabilities, and youth.

Demonstrated Success Patterns

Funded Project Examples:

• Mount Batten Watersports Centre (£6,000): Partnership between WOW sailing club and Woodlands Special School - demonstrates multi-organizational collaboration and special needs focus
• London's Docklands Sailing Centre (£8,900): Aimed to fund minimum 100 young people aged 8-18 to increase sailing scope in local community - demonstrates clear numerical targets and youth focus
• Blind Sailing UK: National project supporting specific disability group - shows disability-focused national scale work

Strong Application Elements:

• Clear target numbers (e.g., “minimum 100 young people”)
• Partnership approaches between organizations
• Focus on specific underrepresented groups
• Plans for regular ongoing participation, not one-time events
• Practical equipment needs tied to accessibility (safety equipment, transport costs)

Strategic Positioning

Language to Use: Transform lives, accessibility, breaking down barriers, sustained benefit, regular participation, grassroots, community, inclusion, wellbeing, life skills

Avoid: One-off events, elite performance focus without grassroots element, applications without clear accessibility/inclusion angle

Strengthen Your Application: Demonstrate how the project will lead to ongoing participation, show partnership working, provide specific numerical targets for beneficiaries, explain which barriers you're addressing and how.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Three distinct grant streams: Be clear which programme you're applying to - organizational disabled sailing grants, individual subsidies, or volunteer training grants have different processes
• Sustained impact is critical: Applications must demonstrate plans for regular, ongoing participation - one-off taster sessions are explicitly not a priority
• 93% programme efficiency: With such high charitable spending ratio, the foundation is clearly committed to getting funding to the frontline
• International scope welcomed: Having funded projects across 8+ countries, UK organizations shouldn't assume preference - strong international applications considered
• Disability focus: The disabled sailing grant programme is a cornerstone of their work, particularly supported through Bart's Bash fundraising
• Numerical targets matter: Successful grant recipients like Docklands Centre specified “minimum 100 young people” - quantify your impact
• Partnership projects valued: Mount Batten's collaboration between sailing club and special school shows strength in multi-organizational approaches
• Barriers language: Frame your application around which specific barriers (financial, physical, learning disability, mental health, social) you're addressing

References

• Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation official website: andrewsimpsonfoundation.org
• Charity Commission Register, Charity Number 1153060: register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk
• “Third round of grants for ASSF”, Yachts and Yachting (2016): yachtsandyachting.com/news/192643
• "The Andrew Simpson Foundation wins the World Sailing President's Development Award", Andrew Simpson Centres (2023): andrewsimpsoncentres.org
• Charity Commission financial filings for year ending 31 December 2023
• “International sailing charity supports Devon sailing centre”, Andrew Simpson Foundation news archive
• Foundation contact page: andrewsimpsonfoundation.org/contact-us/
• Volunteer Instructor Training Grants information: andrewsimpsonfoundation.org (archived content)
• RYA Andrew Simpson Foundation feature: rya.org.uk/blog/andrew-simpson-foundation
• Bart's Bash information: bartsbash.com