UKSA appointed Official Event Charity of AAM Cowes Week

Inspiration UKSA Cowes © UKSA

Cowes Week Limited (CWL) and Aberdeen Asset Management are delighted to announce that, following an extensive evaluation process, they have jointly selected UKSA as the official event charity for Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week for the next two years.

Encouraging youth participation in sailing will play a vital part in the continued success and popularity of the sport and more specifically of events like Cowes Week. CWL and Aberdeen Asset Management therefore felt the time was right to appoint a national charity based in Cowes whose primary aim is to provide young people with opportunities in sailing.

Commenting on the decision, Michelle Warner, Sales and Marketing Director at Cowes Week Limited, said: "Supporting youth sailing is important for the future development of Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week and therefore it's fitting to focus the charitable objectives of our event on this inclusive approach. Any funds raised during the regatta will support specific youth development initiatives to benefit children on the Island as well as further afield. UKSA has great resources in place on the Island and a local presence in Cowes; we're delighted to be working with them".

Lynda Affleck, Head of Charitable Giving at Aberdeen Asset Management, added: "As part of our sponsorship investment in Cowes Week we're fully committed to providing opportunities for the next generation. This is demonstrated by the support we already provide to crews of under 25 year-olds at the regatta through the highly successful youth initiative we introduced in 2012. This new relationship with UKSA further cements our commitment to promoting youth participation in sailing and we're looking forward to working with them in their capacity as Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week's official charity."

As part of UKSA's involvement with the regatta, they will be providing opportunities for all-comers to get afloat and experience the excitement of sailing at this iconic event. In addition, they will be engaging with the public shore-side with a presence at one of the main exhibition sites and working closely with the local business community and event sponsors.

Richard Thornton, CEO of UKSA commented: "We are extremely proud and excited to be chosen as the new Cowes Week official charity. The core values of our organisation fit seamlessly with Cowes Week: challenge on the water while also having fun. Being the chosen charity is a big step forward for UKSA, and falls nicely in line with our strategy to massively increase the number of young people on our youth development programmes from 200 a year to 2,000 - the boost from being Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week's chosen charity will be a huge help towards this. We have a range of exciting activities planned for the regatta, designed to promote inclusivity for all. We want to show that sailing is more than just a hobby; it is a catalyst that transforms people's lives. One of our key aims as official charity will be to raise enough funds to offer every Year 6 primary school child on the Island the opportunity to get on the water with UKSA, and we are delighted that this takes us a step closer to making this dream a reality."

Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week takes place 2 – 9 August 2014 and promises a lively social scene and great racing. Entries are open and a discounted early bird entry fee applies until the end of May. For more information on the regatta, visit www.aamcowesweek.co.uk or follow on twitter at www.twitter.com/cowes_week.