Hundreds of kids discover the excitement of sailing at RYA Beach Club during SailGP festivities
Empowering Young Minds and Sailing Dreams: The Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix Portsmouth's Community Outreach Program
The Emirate Great Britain Sail Grand Prix Portsmouth's community outreach program, a collaborative initiative led by the Andrew Simpson Foundation (ASF) and the 1851 Trust alongside the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), has brought together sport, education, and community engagement to inspire local young people in Portsmouth.
The heart of the program is the RYA Beach Club, which connected around 250 children with sailing, involving them in innovative sessions where they designed, built, and tested model boats. These sessions were complemented by surprise visits from SailGP athletes and Olympians such as Ben Ainslie, who shared stories and encouraged the participants.
Local schools, selected through the Hampshire Virtual Impact League — a classroom challenge that encouraged schools to earn points for activities exploiting the power of the wind and fostering creativity and wind-related science learning, also participated. Inclusion efforts ensured that children and families from diverse and sometimes disadvantaged local groups, such as Pompey in the Community and Portsmouth Young Carers, could take part, making the program truly accessible and representative of the city’s population.
The impact on local children and families has been significant. The program has inspired interest in sailing and related STEM fields, provided educational opportunities outside the regular classroom, and encouraged physical activity among otherwise inactive youth. The program has also fostered a sense of community pride by involving local groups, thereby supporting inclusion and accessibility.
Sharon Robertson from Energise Me highlighted that the engagement spanned months, involving whole schools in challenges and experiences leading up to the event, broadening horizons through the power of sport. Hundreds of local children, families, and community groups participated in immersive, hands-on activities related to sailing.
The 1851 Trust's focus is on supporting young people in underserved areas who face barriers to education and opportunity through their free-to-access STEM Crew program. The Trust provided interactive STEM experiences, including coding Sphero robotic balls and maths and physics sessions. SailGP athletes visited the Beach Club daily, sharing stories, answering questions, and cheering on the young participants.
Josh Atherton, ASF Development Project Manager, states that the Andrew Simpson Foundation believes that partnership work significantly expands and diversifies opportunities in and around the water for young people. Jo Grindley, CEO of the 1851 Trust, is excited about partnering with ASF and the RYA to reignite the on-water program that connects well with their hands-on STEM education sessions.
The RYA's Start Boating pages are available for those looking to learn more about sailing and how they can get on the water. Many young participants had their first experience on the water, participating in keelboat sailing and wingsurfing taster sessions. The Beach Club welcomed young people and families from local groups like Urbond, Pompey in the Community, Motiv8, EnableAbility, Portsmouth Young Carers, and the Royal Navy.
Sir Ben Ainslie, Patron of the 1851 Trust and CEO Emirates GBR SailGP Team, aims to provide opportunities for young people in Portsmouth to access educational and broadening programs, particularly through STEM. The Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix Portsmouth took place on the Solent from 19-20 July.
In summary, the outreach program combines sport, education, and community engagement to inspire local young people in Portsmouth, breaking down barriers to learning and participation, and bringing a flagship international sailing event's excitement directly to the community.
The community outreach program, centered around sailing and STEM education, has successfully fostered a connection between sports and education-and-self-development, inspiring local young minds in Portsmouth. The Heart of the program, the RYA Beach Club, has offered opportunities for children to learn about concepts such as coding, maths, and physics, while also promoting physical activity through sailing.
Local groups, including Pompey in the Community and Portsmouth Young Carers, have been directly involved in the program, ensuring that education-and-self-development opportunities are accessible to children and families from diverse and sometimes disadvantaged backgrounds, aligning with the sports aspect of the initiative.
