The youth charity UKSA has been announced as the official event charity for Aberdeen Asset
Management Cowes Week for the next two years.

The national organisation, which is based on the Isle of Wight, was chosen following an ‘extensive evaluation process’ by Cowes Week Limited (CWL) and event sponsors Aberdeen Asset Management.

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.

‘The 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.”