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Tall Ships Youth Trust Report and Accounts Year Ended 28 February 2025

Tall Ships Youth Trust is a Portsmouth-based charity delivering transformative sail training to young people aged 16–25 from disadvantaged backgrounds across the UK. In 2024/25 it voyaged with 1,287 young people — its highest ever number — across 153 voyages from hubs in Portsmouth, Plymouth, Belfast, Greenock and Ipswich. 82% of voyagers were experiencing disadvantage. The year saw nearly 900 RYA certificates awarded, over 140 DofE achievements, and the launch of an Ocean Racing Pathway culminating in 19 young people competing in the Fastnet race. A £1 million pledge from the YC Chan Charitable Foundation and acquisition of Challenger 5 will enable over 300 additional places annually from 2026.

Report snapshot
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About

Three-voyage programme of Exploration, Empowerment and Leadership voyages for young people aged 16–25; RYA accredited sail training; Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award residentials at sea; Ocean Racing Pathway (Fastnet campaign); work experience placements; maritime career development days at Harland & Wolff and Babcock shipyards; UK hub network; adult voyager programme; volunteer and crew development pathways Custom geography from upload: UK-wide (Portsmouth home hub, hubs in Plymouth, Belfast, Greenock, Ipswich, Swansea, Newcastle)

Key Metrics

Key Metric 1 1,287 young people voyaged in 2024/25 — the highest year on record; 153 voyages delivered across the fleet
Key Metric 2 82% of young people were experiencing disadvantage; 80% came from disadvantaged backgrounds across the three-voyage programme
Key Metric 3 Nearly 900 RYA certificates awarded including 624 Start Yachting, 249 Competent Crew and 6 Watch Leader; 140+ young people achieved DofE expeditions and Gold Award residentials

Key Outcomes

  • 75% of youth organisations are returning clients — demonstrating sustained trusted relationships; 227 young people recommended for Empowerment voyages and 87 for Leadership voyages in 2024/25
  • 72% of young people went on to pursue further volunteering or employment pathways; 19 young people completed the first RYA Day Skipper Theory courses offered by TSYT
  • 25 young people completed work experience placements with TSYT; 10 young women attended the IMO International Day for Women in Maritime symposium at the UN in London

Geography

Other

Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
21,212 people engaged with in 2024/25
Key Metric 2
17,708 people played some form of rugby through Foundation programmes
Key Metric 3
More than £9,000 raised through Foundation Day; 9,000+ given back to grassroots rugby clubs
88% of girls in the Girls Tackle Rugby programme reported feeling more confident, per independent research with Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
£3,112,419 raised to deliver projects in 2024/25; total income £2,920,000 and total expenditure £2,850,000 (year ended 31 August 2024)
Key Metric 2
28,692 people took part in activities; 307,544 visits to sessions; 17,793 sessions delivered
Key Metric 3
More than 16,000 young people engaged across early years and primary programmes; 34 Premier League Primary Stars partner schools; over 7,000 healthy meals provided...
Blackpool FC Sports College A Team won the CEFA league title 2024/25; BFC School received 'Good' Ofsted rating in November 2024; Norbreck Primary Academy reached EFL Utilita Kids Cup National Final at Wembley, winning Regional Finals unbeaten
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
Total income £659,217 and total expenditure £674,216 (year ended 30 June 2025, charity no. 1137275); 10,252 individuals engaged across the 2024/25 season, with 9,713...
Key Metric 2
82% of participants reported positive impact on mental wellbeing; 84% on physical wellbeing; 82% on sense of community; 86% made new friends since joining
Key Metric 3
70% agreed they made positive changes to their life as a result of CUF activity; 63% of adult participants felt a strong sense of...
56.7% of young people hardly ever or never feel lonely vs national average; 94% of participants feel welcome, safe and included; CUF participants ranked higher than Cambridge and UK averages for happiness, life satisfaction and worthwhile life
Impact Snapshot
Key Metric 1
6,744 participants engaged across education, social inclusion, employability, heritage and health programmes in 2024/25
Key Metric 2
37,357 hours of positive activity delivered; £3.9 million in social value generated
Key Metric 3
4,805 pupils supported across 58 education settings; 300+ young people referred across six Engage hubs in Northampton, Kettering, Corby and Milton Keynes
89% of young people attending Engage programme made positive steps; 92% of employability learners moved to positive progression