Please make a donation
Young carers are one of the most invisible segments of the youth population and often overlooked and unsupported.
The RSYC Trust works to overcome their loss of ‘me time’ and the networking others take for granted by providing access to life-changing opportunities for personal and skills development through water sports.
We aim to spend at least 90% of the income we raise on our young carers. This includes funding replacement equipment and safety gear and paying for instructor-led courses. Our annual programme of activities alone costs in excess of £15,000.
Our major sources of income include bidding to grant making bodies, inviting donations from the public and local fund raising activities (see Fundraising events).
Fundraising events
2025 target:
Each year we identify pieces of kit or other larger resource that we will be the focus of our fundraising. In 2025 we are looking to raise money to replace our aging kayaks, which are kept at the RSYC clubhouse. A new, sit on top, single seat kayak will cost in the region of £250. We need to purchase at least 4. We also need to invest in a new tandem kayak, which is great for introducing first timers and more nervous youngsters to kayaking, and costs twice as much. Funding a new kayak fleet is the focus of our summer and autumn fundraising. Please donate to this cause here.
Black tie dinner and auction: Friday 7 November at Careys Manor, Brockenhurst.
This is our major fund raising event of the year. The evening will begin with a drinks reception at 6.30pm, three-course dinner at 7pm and DJ until 11pm. The dinner is followed by a charity auction and raffle.
This year’s auction is set to be a showstopper with items including a Porsche Driving Experience at Silverstone and a luxury SenSpa Annual Membership. Tickets are £60 per person, or £500 for a pre-booked table of 10. Importantly, a minimum of £15 per ticket sold will be donated to the RSYC Trust. Last year our fundraiser transferred an amazing £6,000 to the Trust.
For more information and to book, please email RSYCTrust@Rsyc.org.uk
Supporting charities and organisations
Hampshire Fair – The Hampshire Fair raises money for small local charities and, having seen the immense pleasure a water activities day can give to the many disadvantaged young carers, we know we have chosen a really worthwhile cause to support.
Volunteering
We couldn’t deliver all the activities and experiences without the help and support of lots of lovely volunteers. To run our Gins Water Activities Days alone we have identified 30 distinct roles to be covered each day!
Taking into account availability, impacted by day jobs, holidays and other commitments, we need to recruit a lot of willing people for some quite specialist roles, eg first aid, safety boat rib drivers, team leaders (hosts), marshals, dinghy helms, paddle board and kayak instructors, reception staff, wardrobe and kit manager, river cruise skipper, pontoon safety lead and more.
Would you like to work with us, supporting this excellent cause?
If you have water sports skills and experience, are community spirited and can get to the Gins clubhouse by 0830, it is a very rewarding experience. We will provide all the training you need. (NB i. Key volunteers and trustees will require DBS checks ii. We are unable to provide or fund accommodation).
All our activity days take place in the May and July/August school holidays. If you are able to give up a day or two of your work as part of CSR or just because you want to, or have some leisure time to spare during the summer, please email RSYCTrust@Rsyc.org.uk putting Gins Water Activities Days in the subject line.
We will be promoting the dates of our 2026 Gins Water Activities Days from January.
