Our mission is to open access to watersports to everyone in Bristol — helping participants build confidence, connection, and a lifelong love of the water. We’re committed to removing the barriers of disadvantage and disability so that everyone can discover what they’re capable of.
This work is made possible by the generosity of those who support us with donations, sponsorship or grants.
Help us to help everyone get active on the water in Bristol
All-Aboard is Bristol’s premier watersports charity. Based in the heart of our vibrant city, on Bristol’s thriving Harbourside, we provide a wide range of water-based activities for the whole community – everyone is welcome, everyone belongs.
Accessibility is at our heart. We offer sailing, paddle sports, rowing, swimming and powerboating to everyone, regardless of age, infirmity, disablement, culture, social and economic circumstances or financial hardship.
Our wide-ranging programme of watersports activities includes sessions specifically for disabled people, young people, over 50s, women, SEND communities, and vulnerable and community groups.and. With specialist equipment, skilled staff, and inclusive sessions like Sailability, Paddleability and Powerability, we make sure everyone can get on the water — no one’s left behind. Because inclusion isn’t optional — it’s what builds stronger, healthier communities.
At All-Aboard, we know that watersports deliver life-changing mental and physical benefits, by developing skills, friendships, confidence and independence through access to outdoor activity, teamwork, learning and problem solving.
We have no guaranteed income, and don’t we receive any support from central or local government.
We rely instead income generated by our paid-for activities and on funding from grants, donations, sponsorship and legacies and on the support of our dedicated volunteers, who between them gave over 12,500 hours of their time last year, that’s1,625 working years, or 4½ years!
Along with most charities, we are facing rapid price increases for all our costs, and funding, donations and grants are becoming harder and harder to find. This reality leaves a shortfall between our funding and our costs, a shortfall which your donation would help us to fill.
Any help that you can offer is invaluable and will allow is to continue to provide our valuable services. Please make a donation today.
Put simply, your money will help us to continue to do what we do!
A combination of grant income, voluntary work and a sound financial management allow us to offer fully funded, part funded and internally subsidised watersports sessions to many groups. But the need to ensure access to all, by keeping our prices as low as possible, means that we still have a deficit that needs to be met by fundraising and donations.
Examples of recent projects funded by the generosity of others include:
Your money will make a real difference:
£8 will fund one person to attend a Sailability session
£30 will help fund a watersports taster session for an adult with additional needs
£110 will fund one fully supported watersports session for 6-12 people with additional needs
Thank you for taking the time to read this information, we hope to see you at All-Aboard very soon!