It is with mixed emotions that the Trustees and leadership team of Challenge Wales have taken the difficult decision to announce the closure of the Challenge Wales charity – Challenge Wales shared.
Over the past 16 years the award-winning Welsh based charity has been privileged to make a vital contribution to social and environmental causes combining innovative outdoor education, environmental responsibility and dedicated youth development to create lasting positive changes across Wales and beyond.
Like many organisations in the current economic climate, the Charity has faced increasing financial constraints and increased maintenance costs. Despite our best efforts it has become increasingly difficult to continue our work in a sustainable way, and the Trustees have made the difficult decision to close.
In keeping with our commitment to our mission to support young people in their personal development, we are pleased to share that our sail training vessel Challenge Wales will transfer into the ownership of Tall Ships Youth Trust (TSYT) enabling sail training to continue and develop in Wales.
Tall Ship Youth Trust, who are members of ASTO (Association of Sail Training Organisations), is a well-established a youth development and outdoor learning charity working nationwide to support young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
With four 72ft Challenge vessels, from the same original Global Challenge fleet as Challenge Wales, operating all year round. Together, these vessels enable over 1,000 young people aged 12–25 to experience life-changing residential youth development voyages annually.
In the past year alone, TSYT supported more than 1,200 young people, of whom 80% came from disadvantaged backgrounds. Our aim is to significantly increase the numbers we support over the next few years.
This positive change comes at a crucial time, as demand for TSYT’s services continues to outstrip sea-going capacity.
The addition of the Challenge Wales vessel, which TSYT will operate as Challenger 5, will contribute significantly to meeting that need. This will enable more young people to access TSYT’s innovative three-voyage programme of Exploration, Empowerment and Leadership, supporting the Young Person’s Journey through life.
Through the voyaging pathways, more young people across the UK will get the chance to build essential life skills, grow resilience, develop teamwork and leadership, raise aspirations, and realise their true potential.
As TSYT expands its reach across the UK through the development of regional hubs, the transfer of the Challenge Wales vessel secures its legacy, supporting young people across the region. Wales will remain a key hub in TSYT’s network, giving young people access to life-changing voyages while benefiting from TSYT’s scale, sustainability, and national reach.
Helen Phillips – Chair of the Board of Trustees, Challenge Wales, said:
“We’re extremely proud of the impact the Challenge Wales Charity has had in its 16-year history, but the last few years have been extremely Challenging, and it was with great sadness that the Trustees made the decision to close the charity. What we do is unique in Wales and as Trustees, it was important to us to find the best way to continue to help young people of Wales to achieve their potential and to build on the legacy of the charity.
From the moment we approached them, TSYT have been keen to work with us to ensure that our legacy continues, listening to our experience of what works with young people of Wales, and looking for ways to keep the connection to the legacy of Challenge Wales. Although I’m sad that this has come to an end, I’m excited about what they can bring in the future, and I very much hope that our volunteers will work with them to continue the great work of the past 16 years.”
Together, Challenge Wales and Tall Ships Youth Trust are ensuring that this transition is a lasting legacy – protecting the past, sustaining the present, and creating new opportunities for the future.
For more information, please contact
Challenge Wales: reservations@challengewales.org / 029 2070 4657
Tall Ships Youth Trust: info@tallships.org / 02392 832055
We’ve prepared some Frequently Asked Questions to help guide you through what’s coming next and to provide reassurance about the future.
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