ANNUAL REVIEW 2024/25
In 2024/25 our investments failed to achieve our formula for growth for the second year running. This was in part owing to under performance of the funds and high inflation in the period. Last year, we moved half of our endowment from Investec to CCLA maintaining a 50% split with Navera. The hope of better returns did not materialise over 24/25 and it became obvious that CCLA were not equal to Navera. CCLA acknowledged this shortfall but proposed no active solution, a consequence of which was that toward the year end, the board decided to intervene and as a short-term measure, move 25% of funds from CCLA to Navera.
Our formula for growth (CPI +3% over a rolling 5 -year period) was also challenged by high inflation. The trustees are concerned about the decline of the fund value but decided to maintain our usual level of donations for the following year and review for 26/27.
In 24/25 we donated £174,996 to 34 charities as follows:
Menai Straits Sailing Heritage £3750 for community- based heritage sailing project
Lindley Educational Trust £6000 for life skills programme for young people
Lake District Calvert Trust £6000 for purchase or two gigs
The AHOY Centre £10000 for water-based activities for disadvantaged young people
Moorvision £5300 for sailing projects for visually impaired on tall ships
Outfit Moray £5820 for water sports for disadvantaged young people
SSAFA £3000 to fund young rowers in a skiff competition
EMCT £6712 as final tranche for young people sailing with cancer
Lothian Autistic Society £2000 for outdoor activities
Basecamp Adventure Trust £5808 for outdoor pursuits
Sea Change £10000 for bursary scheme for Blue Mermaid
Young and Inspired £2000 for kayaking experience for disadvantaged young people
Cirdan Sailing Trust £7500 for young people sailing
UKSA £7000 to fund residential sailing course for young people
Go Beyond £2016 for young people kayaking
Free to be Kids £3000 for outdoor challenges for vulnerable children
Cetacean Research and Rescue £1400 for rescue equipment for stranded marine life
Morning Star £5000 New sails
Lambeth Elfrida Trust £5834 for outward bound activities for disadvantaged young people
Vision of Adventure £5152 for sports programme for visually impaired
Royal College for the Blind £1175 for water sports for visually impaired
Portsmouth Sail Training £15,701 sailing courses for young people
Tall Ships Youth Trust £5000 for voyage for young people
Thames Sailability £1200 to provide buoyancy aids
Regenerate £5000 to fund cycling challenges
All Aboard £3562 to fund water sports qualifications
Youth Adventure Trust £6000 to fund outdoor activities
Barking and Dagenham Youth Zone £5000 adventure training for disadvantaged youth
Cerebral Palsy Plus £2000 to fund sailing for young people with CP
Cobnor Activities Trust £2536 to fund RYA training
OYT South £9000 New sail for Prolific
MACS £5000 to fund visually impaired visit to Calvert Trust
OYT Scotland £5000 to fund sailing voyages
SECCHI Disk £5500 to fund environmental research.
Analysis of this year’s recipients shows how carefully we vet applications to ensure they are within our remit. Prospective applicants for funding from WCT would do well to not only study our guidelines on the website but also review this list of successful applicants to understand our core objectives and gauge whether their proposal dovetails with us.
We have continued to provide funding to charities that spend wisely and focus on benefits delivered to individuals and society rather than on overheads. We have been delighted to continue our relationships with some of the great organısations such as SECCHI Disk, a programme of environmental study that is now playing a part in other larger research projects. Of note this year are Ocean Youth Trust South on whose behalf their CEO Mark Todd was awarded an MBE and Richard Titchener of Sea Change who also received an MBE. Whirlwind have long supported both of these excellent charities who embody our grant making principles and the trustees at Whirlwind are delighted to have played a small part over the years in their success.