Boardmasters Foundation gives £115,000 to local Cornish charities and organisations

Boardmasters – giving back to the local community . Pic Boardmasters / Hugh Hastings

Boardmasters Foundation has announced this year’s recipients as it continues its mission to give back to local charities and organisations who go above and beyond for community and culture in Cornwall. 40 local organisations will receive donations from the Foundation, which raises funds annually at Boardmasters surf and music festival. Established in 2017, Boardmasters Foundation has gone on to proudly raise almost half a million pounds,, providing funds to over 100 deserving organisations including charities, start-ups, schools, conversation organisations, emergency services, creatives, skate parks and much more.

BOARDMASTERS 2023 FUNDS | £115,000 DONATED TO…

• The Wave Project
• Newquay Food Bank
• Safe Spaces Newquay
• Newquay Business Improvement District (BID)
• Black Voices Cornwall
• Nansledan Community Association
• Porth Residents Association
• Cornwall Pride
• Drop In And Share Centre (Disc) Newquay
• Tr7 Skatepark
• UK Pro Surf Tour Independent Film
• Newquay Street Art Independent Project
• Blystra Arts CIC
• Clay Independent Film
• Amplify (DJ Lessons + Workshops)
• Auction House (Recording Studio + Exhibition Space)
• Newquay Beer Festival
• Adaptive Surf England
• Surfing England
• Newquay Marine Group
• Marine Conservation Society
• Newquay Boardriders Club
• Newquay Surflife Association
• Newquay Scout Club
• Surf Lifesaving Clubs
• Mawgan-In-Pyder Community School
• Newquay Junior Academy
• St Columb Major Ace Academy
• St Columb Minor Ace Academy
• The Bishops C Of E Learning Academy
• Trenance Learning Academy
• Treviglas Academy
• Trevisker Community Primary School
• Schools Consent Project
• Plus Multi-Year Donations To Concrete Waves Skatepark Beginner Slope + Newquay Train Station Toilets Refurbishment

With Boardmasters returning to Watergate Bay in just three weeks time, the festival’s charitable arm is thrilled to announce the organisations who will benefit from money raised at last year’s festival, totalling over £115,000.

Andrew Topham, CEO and Founder of Boardmasters Festival said, “The Boardmasters Foundation was created as a meaningful way to give back and contribute to deserving organisations in Cornwall. We’re proud to call Cornwall our home, and we’re just as proud to be able to donate to charities, schools, businesses, and support incredible and often vital local causes. Thanks to everyone who so generously donates at Boardmasters, and we look forward to seeing this year’s funds put to good use.”

This year, the Boardmasters Foundation has donated for a second year to The Schools Consent Project, continuing its proactive work in stamping out anti-social behaviour at a societal level, engaging with schools in Newquay and wider Cornwall. ​Last year, workshops were hosted in Truro High School & Treviglas with The Schools Consent Project, alongside volunteer lawyers, teaching students’ the legal definition of consent, aiming to normalise conversations, safeguard young people and drive down sexual offending rates. ​This year this has expanded the programme to Truro High School, Treviglas plus Tretherras and reaching 210 students (up by 250% YoY), funded by the Foundation. For the first time this year, Boardmasters work with The Schools Consent Project broadened outside of Cornwall in response to national demand, with a full day of workshops at Epsom College.

Drew Creek, Mayor of Newquay said, “I am thrilled to hear that half a million in funding has been donated in the area by the Boardmasters Foundation, it really does make a difference here. Boardmasters and the Foundation have worked hard to support local community organisations and projects including funding towards our world class skatepark Concrete Waves, Newquay Foodbank and all schools in Newquay ensuring funding reaches those that need it most and helping to support children within our community.”

Carolyn Webster, CEO, CLEAR Support said, “The most welcome donation from the Boardmasters Foundation has been used to develop a whole-town approach to safe-spaces in Newquay, enabling organisations across the town to collaborate and to access CLEAR training and resources. It has had an immediate impact in the creation of a network of Safe Spaces and also a legacy in that it has inspired CLEAR to develop a blueprint to spread this approach across other towns in Cornwall. Thank-you Boardmasters!”

Cornwall Pride, Adaptive Surfing, The Wave Project, Newquay Food bank, Newquay Safe Spaces, Black Voices Cornwall and a host of other exceptional organisations and businesses have also gone on to receive donations this year, along with over 10 schools in the region who will receive combined funds totalling £20,000. This year’s donations are being used to fund independent creatives in Cornwall, develop community spaces, add facilities at Newquay train station, support community outreach programs, provide surf therapy courses, and support trainers and teachers, among other initiatives.

Steven Mildenhall of Treviglas Academy said, “Being part of a school that is geographically so close to the one of the largest music festivals in the country feels very special, and the support that the Boardmasters Foundation has given the school is of huge value and benefit to our students. Not only does Boardmasters enable our school bands to perform at the festival, but the donation from the Boardmasters Foundation this year will go towards enhancing our sound and lighting facilities in the performing arts, and in doing so will inspire and widen opportunities for all students. Thank you Boardmasters!”

Fred Andrews, Cornwall Team Leader at Wave Project said, “On behalf of my team here at the Wave Project, I’d like to say a huge thank you to the Boardmasters Foundation for this incredible donation. The money we have been awarded will be used to fund our award winning Surf Therapy sessions here in Newquay and across Cornwall, helping young people from across the county who are struggling with their mental health to access the sea and enjoy the waves in a safe, supportive environment.”

Liam Jolly, Director of Auction House added, “Auction House is delighted to have received support from the Boardmasters Foundation. Since 2018, Auction House has evolved from an unfunded studio project into a public-facing exhibition and project space showing exhibitions of Contemporary Art in the heart of Redruth. This summer, after two years of major renovations carried out by our landlords, we are excited to move back into our building. These improvements bring increased overheads and pressures, and we couldn’t be considering making this move back without the Boardmasters Foundation’s invaluable support. We are extremely grateful for their generosity.”

Zoe Nixon, Strategic Manager at Newquay Foodbank said, “Like other foodbanks, we’ve seen a massive increase in people coming to us. We’re up 37% on last year for the number of people using our services. The reasons people are coming to foodbanks are far more complex than they have been in the past. A large proportion of the issues are related to financial inclusion, and we have been able to provide full-time citizens advice support to those who use us. This very generous donation will enable us to support in the region of 400 households over a three month period. Donations of this type make our ongoing issue of raising capital far easier and for that, we are very generous.”

Mark Warren, Manager of Newquay BID said, “We are thrilled to have received funding from Boardmasters Foundation to purchase staging infrastructure that can support events for the community through the year and also the funding to provide training to launch the first town centre wide Safe Spaces project.”

The Boardmasters Foundation was created out of a desire to give back and support the culture and surrounding communities that are at the heart of the festival. The Boardmasters Foundation aims to build on and grow the annual fundraising and charitable donations that the festival has made year-on-year. Each year, Boardmasters raises funds for the foundation and then reviews which projects and charities it will support with one-off donations while continuing to work with long-term partners including The Schools Consent Project. Applications for 2024 funds will open in Autumn – sign up to the BM newsletter to find out more at boardmasters.com.

For more information, visit www.boardmasterscommunity.com/boardmasters-foundation.

Get On Board – The Wave Project

This September, The Wave Project is calling on supporters across the UK to Get On Board for an exciting new challenge. Registrations open today for the month-long event that aims to collectively cover the entire length of the UK coastline – 18,000 kilometres – while raising funds for their evidence-based Surf Therapy programmes.

Participants from every corner of the UK can choose any type of board – from surfboards to paddleboards, skateboards to bodyboards, or even board games – to complete their personal challenges.

Ramon Van de Velde, Chief Executive Officer of The Wave Project said:
“This event not only supports the charity’s vital work but also promotes physical and mental wellbeing for all participants. It’s a win-win, and a fantastic opportunity for people to challenge themselves, connect with others, as well as contribute to a great cause.

“Our amazing team of staff and volunteers work so hard all year round, all around the UK, to help improve children’s mental health through Surf Therapy and the healing powers of the ocean. With the funds raised by this event we’ll be able to help more young people facing mental health challenges or social isolation, and this is very much needed!”


Former participant turned The Wave Project volunteer, Elsy said: “The Wave Project’s Surf Therapy transformed my life as a young person. It broke through my isolation, introduced me to the joy of surfing, and helped me forge lifelong friendships. It gave me a genuine sense of connection.

“Now, for the Get On Board challenge, I’m committing to catch a wave every day, rain or shine. I hope friends, family, and people everywhere will join in to support this incredible cause that changes lives like it changed mine.”

The challenge offers flexibility in how people participate. Individuals can set personal targets or join with friends, colleagues, or classmates to reach collective goals. Every pound raised equates to one kilometre towards the overall target.

Registrations are now open. Participants will receive a digital resource pack to assist with their fundraising efforts. To join the Get On Board challenge or for more information, click here:

Track your progress, share your journey and connect with fellow participants across the country by using #GetOnBoardWithTWP on socials!

GET INVOLVED HERE

Ofwat investigates water companies – at last

Ofwat, Britain’s water industry regulator for the last 34 years has (eventually) opened enforcement action to investigate all 11 companies in the English and Welsh water industry on sewage.

The ‘watchdog’ said it analysis of the groups’ environmental performance and data raised concerns the companies ‘may not be fulfilling their obligations to protect the environment and minimise pollution’…. Something we have all known since about 1990.

David Black, Ofwat’s chief executive, said: ‘The fact that Ofwat now has enforcement cases with all 11 of the wastewater companies in England and Wales demonstrates how concerned we are about the sector’s environmental performance.

‘Where we find that companies have breached their obligations, we will continue to act – over recent years, we have imposed penalties and payments of over £300million on water and wastewater companies.

‘This is the largest and most complex investigation Ofwat has undertaken. However, Ofwat is committed to concluding these cases as quickly as possible.’

Water companies have paid huge dividends to shareholders and bonuses to executives for years while under investing in the sewage system, and sewage pollution of rivers, lakes and the ocean is now a huge public concern.

Despite this Ofwat have told water companies they can fund the investment by increasing household water bills by an average of £94 over the five-year period, excluding inflation. water companies’ business plans had proposed £144.

Campaigner Feargal Sharkey responded…

“As of today every single sewage company in England and Wales is under investigation as part of the “largest ever criminal investigation”, into “widespread non-compliance”. What the hell has @Ofwat and @EnvAgency been doing the last 33 years?”

SAS stated

“The system is broken, we are calling for a full public enquiry, it is clear that we need root and branch change to end the sewage crisis once and for all. “