By Isle of Wight Observer
HRH Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, Patron of the United Kingdom Sailing Association (UKSA), has hosted a reception at St James’s Palace to celebrate the success of fundraising efforts for new facilities at UKSA’s centre in Cowes.
Her Royal Highness thanked guests, including supporters, UKSA graduates now working on yachts and in water sports, and UKSA friends. She encouraged efforts to raise funds to continue, as the next phase of the Building Better Futures landmark campaign begins.
UKSA is undertaking a major redevelopment in Cowes, the largest ever investment in its 30-year history. With £1m secured to date, it has so far been able to purchase four new yachts, refurbish shower and changing facilities, and redevelop the old Cowes Youth Hall into a new maritime training centre with training class rooms, a navigation training simulator and a superyacht training galley for hospitality training courses. The gym and sports hall have also been refurbished and will be available to the local community.
Ben Willows, UKSA CEO, said: “Building Better Futures is about enabling more young people from all walks of life and backgrounds to come to UKSA. It is about creating an environment where not only our teaching and activities are world class but also our facilities”.
The Princess Royal said: “UKSA is a very special charity, in that it works with such a range of young people from disadvantaged Year 6 children having their first experience away from home and on-the-water, through to students working towards a career in the maritime industry. I am delighted to be here tonight and lend my support to helping this charity realise the potential of more young people in this country.”
