Polly's Fund was set up to offer a special opportunity to Isle of Wight children to apply for a five-day sailing or watersports course during their summer holidays for just £20, enabling them to have fun, be adventurous and learn new skills through participation in outdoor activities.

In Summer 2018, 33 Isle of Wight children were able to take part and have a summer of adventure and learning and, for many, it sparked in them a new passion for sailing and watersports; it is thanks to the friends and family of Polly Birch that UKSA is in a position to do this. Polly was a much loved vet, sailor, mum, wife, sister, daughter and friend. Above all Polly loved adventure and wanted to encourage other people to go out and experience the world.

Looking to the future we hope that Polly's Fund will continue this journey, by offering follow-on opportunities to the 2018 participants and by offering up to 36 children, aged 10-11, a five-day course in Summer 2019. Participants will be able to choose from a multi-activity week including sailing, kayaking and paddle-boarding, or work to achieve their RYA Stage 1 & 2 Dinghy Start Course.

To take part, each child will be asked to raise just £20 towards the course costs to show their commitment and to give them a sense of having earned the opportunity; last year, participants took part in sponsored squat challenges, gardening, car washing and quiche cooking to name a few activities!

Thank you for visiting this page and thank you for any help you have been able to offer for this project. If you are able to make a contribution we would like the opportunity to email an end of summer round-up of how your donation has supported the children; to receive this update please leave your email address on the donation screen or contact us separately on fundraising@uksa.org

"Respect the world and look after the bees. Appreciate the people around you, adventure with them, buy less stuff and go out to experience the world. Laugh, dance and have fun."