Cowes Town Waterfront Trust
A charitable organisation to rejuvenate Cowes Waterfront
The Cowes Town Waterfront Trust is a charitable organisation whose prime objective is to rejuvenate and improve Cowes Waterfront and recreational facilities across the Isle of Wight.
The Cowes Town Waterfront Trust owns the Cowes Yacht Haven boatyard and marina and invests the income generated back into its future, as well as making charitable donations that align with its Objects. Examples of these donations can be seen below.
Since its formation in 1991 over £3.5 million has been put into the construction of new buildings and improvements to the facilities. Cowes Yacht Haven has evolved into a prime event location, not only hosting Cowes Week visitors, but providing year round facilities for other regattas such as Cowes Classic Week, Powerboat Festival and many corporate team building and training events.
Charitable Objects
The charity’s objects are:
4.1 To promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of Cowes and the Isle of Wight the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interest of social welfare and with the object of improving the life of the said inhabitants and to advance sailing and water sports in the waters around Cowes, and in furtherance of this Object to provide facilities for mooring and storage of boats for the benefit of the public at large.
4.2 To promote the culture and heritage of Cowes and support the maritime heritage of the Isle of Wight;
4.3 To promote the protection and improvement of the environment of Cowes Harbour.
Charitable Donations
Charitable gifts in the financial year ending 31st March 2024
Etchells Academy Youth Sailing – Object 1
The Trust continued its support of Youth Sailing initiatives and engagement within the sailing fraternity including the Etchells Youth Academy to encourage and promote sailing to younger people.
The Trust’s involvement included:
- Provision of a substantial donation in the form of a discount for the storage and launching / recovery of four Etchells keelboats used by youth, support ribs and other boats.
- Free of charge storage for a 20ft container and the equivalent area for a client supplied marquee for the use of storage, repairs and briefings.
- A discount off the cost of a storage container which supported both youth sailing and other sailing and a tent that youth sailors use as a base. In addition, the container is used as a dry repair / dust containment shop in the winter.
- Provision of additional facilities free of charge including sail drying and folding facilities and meeting rooms (when not booked by any other fee paying client).
Greig City Academy (GCA) / Scaramouche Sailing Trust – Object 1
GCA is a mixed-sex secondary school in the London borough of Haringey; it has around 1,100 pupils on its roll. As well as a busy main school, the Academy includes a thriving Sixth Form with links to The Russell Group and other universities, as well as specialist sports and arts colleges. The Scaramouche Sailing Trust provides opportunities for disadvantaged inner city children to enhance their life chances through sailing. The CTWT supports The Scaramouche Sailing Trust by providing drysail facilities for a Quarter Ton yacht and an Intro 22 yacht as well as a marina berth for their Rib.
British Powerboat Racing Club (BPRC) – Object 1
The BPRC organises the annual Cowes-Torquay-Cowes International Powerboat Festival once again hosted from Cowes Yacht Haven. This event brings a unique business and profile to the town, along with a large number of followers who flock into the town to watch the boats preparing for their racing. Cowes Town Waterfront Trust was pleased to support the cost of berthing for the competitors and the provision of the Events Centre for race briefings and for the prizegiving ceremony.
Sea Cadets – Object 1
TS Osborne, the local branch of Sea Cadets requested financial assistance to help buy a new safety boat for their cadet sail training activities. The Trust supported half of the cost with the Sea Cadets successfully sourcing the other half from other supporters.
The Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO) – Object 1
ASTO’s mission is to “promote Sail Training in the UK and to support the Sail Training Industry”.
The Trust helped ASTO by gifting the CYH Events Centre venue hire fee and providing 50% off the cost of berthing for their fleet whilst staying at CYH for their annual Small Ships Race weekend.
DECADeANCE – Object 1
This ‘decades of dance’ music event raises funds for the local IOW Hospice. The Trust supported the event by covering the CYH Events Centre venue hire fee as a direct donation to the IOW Hospice.
The value of all of the gifts (in cash and in specie) for the above activities totals £ 32,888 (2023 £35,383)
Requesting a Charitable Donation
How to request a donation
The Trust has created a donation request form to consider eligible requests in a fair and equitable manner. To request a donation please download this form, complete it and send to the email address on page 2.
