Challenge Wales Charity to Close But Legacy Secured

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After more than 16 transformative years inspiring young lives at sea, Penarth-based charity, Challenge Wales will close its doors at the end of September. The legacy though of the charity will live on as its Challenge 72 yacht Challenge Wales | Wales’ Tall Ship will transfer to Tall Ships Youth Trust (TSYT) safeguarding its sail training legacy for generations of young people in Wales and across the UK.

Challenge Wales, an award-winning charity, has empowered almost 5,000 young people through outdoor learning at sea, environmental stewardship, education and improving mental health. Working tirelessly with predominantly disadvantaged young people to raise aspirations, reduce inequality and to lead social inclusion through access to sail training opportunities helping young people to reach their potential.

Faced with mounting financial pressures and the challenge of maintaining an iconic vessel, the Charity has found it difficult to continue its work in a sustainable way. After careful consideration the Trustees made the very difficult decision to close the Charity.

Andy Hall (Co-Founder and Skipper from 2009 – 2022) and Vicky Williams (Co-Founder), had never intended to run or grow an outdoor youth-focussed charity dedicating thousands of hours to the cause. Vicky says: “I couldn’t have imagined the immense impact Challenge Wales would have – not only for young people but our amazing volunteers too. Through sail training, we’ve helped broaden horizons and improve employability, helping young people reach their potential and have a brighter future.  Though it is emotional to say farewell, we are incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved.”

College students sailing on Challenge Wales

In keeping with the Charity’s commitment to its mission to support young people in personal development, the Charity is excited to announce that its vessel Challenge Wales will transfer into the ownership of the Tall Ships Youth Trust (TSYT) on 1st October.

Tall Ships Youth Trust, a well-established youth development and outdoor learning charity already operates four Challenge 72 vessels. Over the next few years, TSYT aims to significantly increase the number of young people it supports. The transfer of Challenge Wales to their fleet will boost their capacity and secure the legacy of giving young people across Wales access to life-changing voyages. Wales will continue to play a vital role as a regional hub within TSYT’s national network.

Alastair Floyd, CEO of Tall Ships Youth Trust commented: “We’re thrilled to collaborate with Challenge Wales to build on their extraordinary legacy. From October 2025, the Challenge Wales vessel will join our fleet and we are excited to provide youth development on the ocean through our three-voyage journey of Exploration, Empowerment and Leadership delivered over many weeks of voyaging from Wales from 2026.”

Helen Phillips, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Challenge Wales adds: “We’re extremely proud of the impact the Challenge Wales has had but the recent years have been extremely challenging. Our work is unique in Wales, and the Trustees felt it was vital to find the best way to continue supporting young people in relating their potential whilst building on the Charity’s legacy”.


Finally, Paul Glaze, CEO of CWVYS (Council for Wales of Voluntary Youth Services) commented: Challenge Wales has made an astoundingly successful contribution to the delivery of youth work in Wales. Turning sailing into invaluable, transformational opportunities for young people has been truly inspirational. Its closure will be felt in Wales, but it leaves a long-lasting legacy”.

Challenge Wales created a unique volunteer community with over 500 volunteers getting involved over the years. A volunteer pathway has been set up enabling Challenge Wales volunteers to continue their volunteering with Tall Ships Youth Trust.

Together, Challenge Wales and Tall Ships Youth Trust are ensuring a lasting legacy – protecting the past, sustaining the present, and creating new opportunities for the future.

Read the full joint statement.

Come and join Challenge Wales for her final sailing trip from Penarth to Gosport. This is an adult only voyage and will be the last opportunity to sail her under the Challenge Wales banner!
Leg 1: Penarth – Plymouth 19th – 24th September – £475
Leg 2: Plymouth – Gosport 25th – 29th September – £475
Double up and do both legs: Penarth – Gosport 19th – 29th September -£795
Suitable for solo travellers, couples of small groups, no sailing experience required but a great milebuilder if you are looking for your next sailing qualification. To read more about the itinerary click here and to book call 029 20 704657 or email reservations@challengewales.org

Challenge Wales Volunteers Help Spruce Up The Severn

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A small team of Challenge Wales shore-side volunteers, armed with litter-pickers and a passion for the environment, recently took part in the Severn Estuary Spring Clean.

The aim of the campaign, co-ordinated by Severn Estuary Partnership is to help reduce the flow of litter into the sea.

The Challenge Wales charity is passionate about sustainability and one of its programmes focuses on microplastics in Cardiff Bay; raising awareness of this growing issue. These small plastic fragments, along with larger debris, travel down from the valleys via the rivers, accumulating in Cardiff Bay, before heading out into the Bristol Channel and out to sea. However, these plastics pose a danger to wildlife and risk entering the food chain.

The team tackled a small waterside area in Cardiff Bay, yet even within this limited space, the extent of the plastic waste was eye-opening. One first-time volunteer was shocked by the sheer volume of microplastics and rubbish underfoot highlighting how prevalent the issue had become.

Beyond clean-ups Challenge Wales shore-side programme ‘Sea and Tell’ uses structured sessions to introduce environmental issues, ocean literacy and STEM subjects & marine careers to young people and can be seen as a stepping stone into its sail training programme or be used as a stand alone activity. With each session looking at microplastics and man-made debris in Cardiff Bay.

If you are interested in finding out more about the shore side ‘Sea and Tell’ programme Challenge Wales runs in addition to its sail training programme then please visit the website or contact the Challenge Wales team.

Currently, sessions are available thanks to funding by Welsh Government’s Landfill Disposals Tax Communities Scheme (administered by WCVA).

Adventure Wales sail training boat sailing in the Bristol Channel

The Impact of Adventure Wales

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Working with over 1,000 people and delivering almost 150 voyages from 1 to 10 days the award-winning sail training vessel Adventure Wales is now starting a new adventure with new owners.

In response to the challenges after Covid paralleled with increased funding difficulties in the sector, the Challenge Wales charity made the strategic decision to streamline its operations, moving from a two boat charity to a single boat operating model. Going forward the charity will continue deliving its life-changing outdoor learning programme at sea exclusively onboard Challenge Wales | Wales’ Tall Ship.

Easier to sail than the larger boat Challenge Wales, Adventure Wales brought together diverse young people whose paths wouldn’t have crossed working with neurodivergent individuals, young carers, those with mental health issues, graduates and more. The charity’s outdoor learning programme on Adventure Wales saw young people move into employment, start volunteering in their community, become more confident and improve their mental health.

As the Challenge Wales charity navigates difficult times with funding and the cost of living crisis and balancing increased demand for its funded services, the transition allows the charity to focus its resources on sustaining and growing its impact ensuring young people continue to benefit from its unique sailing experiences.

We wish Adventure Wales bon voyage on her new sailing adventures with her new owners.

Read the Adventure Wales Impact Infographic
Read the Adventure Wales Diversity Case Study

Challenge Wales departing Aberdeen

Help Upgrade Challenge Wales

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Challenge Wales continues to fundraise to raise an additional £50,000 this season to enhance and upgrade Wales’ Tall Ship – Challenge Wales. By investing in improvements, the charity can continue to support young people across Wales and the UK to steer towards a brighter future and reach their potential.

Challenge Wales activities are transformational, giving young people an opportunity to develop employability skills, improve resilience, improve self-confidence, improve teamwork and communication skills while in a safe and fun learning environnment…at sea. Our activities are evidenced to improve mental health, and provide a pathway into the marine industry whether it is a first step on the ladder, learning about environmental stewardship and ocean literacy or by bringing STEM subjects to life. But young lives don’t change unless our team of amazing volunteers are there. A dedicated group of people who ensure young people get the best out of their voyage and out of themselves but are also there helping to get the boat ship-shape through maintenance activities.

Vicky Williams, Co-Founder of Challenge Wales says: “Where funding from Trusts and Foundations is becoming extremely limited due to many other charities ‘fighting’ for the same pot of money and not enough funding to go around, we need to look wider at how we bring much needed funds into the charity, and do this continuously throughout the year. But last year due to the cost-of-living crisis we need financial support more than ever. Fundraising enables us to keep the lights on, our doors open and continue to provide outdoor learning for young people. Not only will it help our future sustainability as an organisation but with the majority of young people needing bursaries to jump onboard, we continue to rely on Trusts for bursary support for our young people.”

Young people who have sailed on Challenge Wales over the last 16 years have come from a diverse range of backgrounds; from young carers to those that are homeless, to those who have lost focus in life to those who have are in the care system, to those who are unemployed or suffering from mental health issues to those who want to try an adventure, to those who have faced inequalities to those who need help finding a career or purpose. We’ve been there for them, so can you be here for us now and help us with a donation.

Where your money will go:

Lift Out and scrubbing & painting her bottom: This helps keep Challenge Wales ship shape and is vital for safety and longevity. Lifting 50 tonnes of boat, landing her and storing her on land in the boat yard is no mean feat and takes a team to do this. The boat will be stored on land for around 13 weeks in a boat yard near Portsmouth, which is one of the only yards available to take her out due to her large size – Thank you: This part of the project has now been funded.

Life Jacket and Life Raft servicing: Safety is crucial onboard a sail training vessel and all our safety equipment gets replaced after time or if they get damaged during the season

VHF Radio System: We need to replace our current system which is vital for communication and safety during sailing

Radar: Our radar is almost 20 years old and now needs replacing. It enables us to safely navigate in low visibility conditions. Thank you: This part of the project has now been funded outside this funding appeal.

Marine Computers / navigation displays and onboard systems: Over the years our computers and systems which provide information to help us navigate safely start to feel their age. These systems help us understand the boat speed, boat depth and wind and computers also help us bring our below deck space to life as an interactive classroom. Marine electronic equipment is naturally more expensive than what you will find in your home or office as it needs to be durable to withstand the moving motion of the boat.

Refit Bits and Bobs and Ongoing Planned Maintenance: There are lots of other things that we need during maintenance activities with Challenge Wales. From hiring scaffolding ladders to masking tape! We always need specialist tradespeople to help us look after Challenge Wales and do the jobs that our volunteers are not trained to do, from welding to carpentry and more. Due to Challenge Wales being a steel boat it is not uncommon for significant welding work to take place inside and out and this year we are aware the welding costs are around £70,000! But we also need tools for volunteers to help them do some of the tasks including paintbrushes, PPE and then we need anti-fouling paint….and lots of it. We will need people to remove our galley and store it ashore while our maintenance work is being undertaken. Once the main refit is done then we continue to require funding for planned maintenance activities that will take place from May to September. This includes servicing winches, making any sail repairs, repairing our windlass (which helps us haul our huge anchor up) having new cabling, undertaking minor repairs etc.

Core Costs: Core costs are those important running costs that means we can manage and do all our maintenance and sail training work this season, it covers a contribution towards insurance, our mooring fees, our electricity, stationery and our office costs. Not covering these costs will impact on the work that we need to do. Very few funders cover core costs meaning it can cause charities to struggle, but is one of the most important costs to cover for charities.

Compass: We always need to know if we are coming or going and our compass will certainly help point us in the right direction. Our current compass is damaged and will need replacing.

How to Donate:
You can donate securely directly to our Justgiving Upgrade campaign page. You can do that here.

If you wish to speak to us about your donation, or are wishing to donate directly or help us with support of in-kind donations then please call us on 029 20 704657 or contact us through the Contact form at the top of the website. Thank you.

Should we raise more or less of the funding we require for our upgrade, then at the Trustees discretion the charity will use the funds as they see fit in the best interests of Challenge Wales. If we raise more funds then we plan to the charity will put the additional funds towards our bursary fund to support more young people. If we raise less funds we will be able to start to undertake the work in phases.

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Your Vote Matters – Empower Young Lives in March with a Click!

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Can you help Challenge Wales in the My Favourite Voucher Codes Charity Poll, that is running throughout March 2025. It’s free to enter and could help change a young person’s life.

[Edit 1st April] – Thank you to everyone who voted for us, we came second place which wasn’t enough to secure the funding but to be fair there were four amazing charities doing really important work that were vying for everyone’s votes!

The sea, a vast and powerful force, has long been a catalyst for transformation. At Challenge Wales, we harness this power to equip young individuals with vital life skills, fostering resilience, teamwork, and self-discovery. In March 2025, YOU have the unique opportunity to amplify our impact by participating in the My Favourite Voucher Codes monthly charity poll. Your vote will directly contribute to our mission of providing life-changing outdoor learning experiences at sea.

Understanding My Favourite Voucher Codes: A Partnership for Positive Change

My Favourite Voucher Codes operates as a conduit between consumers and charitable causes. Beyond its function as a provider of discount codes and online savings, the platform demonstrates a commendable commitment to social responsibility. Each month, 20% of their profits is donated to a charity, determined by a public vote.

Each month, visitors to the site get to choose between 4 nominated charities, and vote for the one they want to see win the donation. At the end of the month, the charity with the most votes, wins!

This month, March 2025, Challenge Wales are hoping to be the next good cause to win the MFVC charity poll. But Challenge Wales can’t do this without you!

The Transformative Impact of Your Vote: Investing in Future Generations

Challenge Wales is not merely about sailing; it is about cultivating essential life skills within a challenging and immersive environment. Our activities are designed to address the specific needs of young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, who often lack access to transformative experiences and opportunities. Through sailing we foster teamwork and communication skills, develop leadership skills, improve mental health and wellbeing, resilience and improve self-confidence and self-esteem. The predominantly volunteer-run charity helps young people develop their employability skills, brings STEM subjects and Ocean Literacy to life enabling them to reach their potential and have a brighter future.

The funds secured through the My Favourite Voucher Codes poll will contribute towards:

  • Operating the Challenge Wales sail training vessel, enabling more young people to have the opportunity to have a life-enhancing experience
  • Helping make activities more accessible through the Challenge Wales bursary fund

How to Cast Your Vote: A Simple and Accessible Process

Participating in the My Favourite Voucher Codes charity poll is a straightforward and accessible process – it’s free and you don’t have to sign up to anything either. During the month of March 2025, please follow these steps:

  1. Head to the Website: Visit the My Favourite Voucher Codes website at https://www.myfavouritevouchercodes.co.uk/.
  2. Locate the Charity Poll: Identify the charity poll section, this will appear on the right hand side of the page or at the bottom of the page. If using your phone to vote you may have to scroll down to the bottom of the page.
  3. Select Challenge Wales: Find Challenge Wales within the list of participating charities.
  4. Cast Your Vote: Click the designated vote button adjacent to our charity’s name ‘Challenge Wales’.

This simple action will contribute to our potential to secure vital funding. It is important to remember that voting is completely free, and no purchase or sign up is needed.

A Call to Action: Your Vote Matters

Your vote represents a tangible investment in the future of young people. By participating in the My Favourite Voucher Codes charity poll in March 2025 and voting for Challenge Wales you are directly contributing to our mission of empowering young individuals through transformative outdoor learning experiences. Visit https://www.myfavouritevouchercodes.co.uk/ in March 2025 and cast your vote for Challenge Wales.

A Message of Gratitude: Sailing Towards a Brighter Future

We extend our sincere gratitude for your support. Your commitment to our mission enables us to provide life-changing opportunities for young people, fostering a brighter future for individuals and communities alike. Together, we can harness the power of the sea to create lasting positive change.