$1.9 million unlocks ambitious accommodation plans for UKSA

We are delighted to announce that a generous donation of $1.9 million has been made to UKSA, enabling the progression of our plans to enhance and expand facilities with the building of a new accommodation centre.

The gift is the largest single amount ever received by UKSA since we first opened our doors in 1987. It has been made by The TK Foundation – a Bahamas based foundation that supports non-profit and youth programmes across the globe.

Improved experience for visitors to UKSA

Students staying with us will benefit from an improved experience, with configurable zones providing more flexible arrangements for all, alongside maintaining safeguarding and disabled access. The new facilities will unlock the potential to train more professional students as they progress their careers with UKSA’s ongoing training and development programmes.

In the last year, we welcomed over 10,000 students thanks to our recognition as the world’s premier maritime training provider. It is the natural progression to improve our facilities to ensure we retain our position as a centre of excellence.

Growing UKSA’s impact on the life skills and career prospects of young people

The new accommodation will reinforce our commitment to continue growing our impact on the life skills and career prospects of young people through increasing our capacity to support many more young people. Our team delivers maritime activities and training programmes that have a positive and lasting impact on young people’s academic, health and sporting abilities. The creation of tangible pathways inspires young people to broaden their horizons, leading to continuous employment in the maritime sector. The new accommodation is an urgent requirement, as the demand for places at UKSA continues to grow year on year.

Business as usual

Our site will remain fully operational throughout the development works, with building work commencing in the latter part of 2020 and completion of the works planned for mid-2022. We have appointed Isle of Wight based multidisciplinary consultancy ERMC to provide procurement and project support.

A hand up, not a handout

This is a significant point in the history of UKSA and we are extremely grateful to the team at The TK Foundation, an organisation that has long supported the work UKSA undertakes and recognises the important value our programmes add to the lives of the thousands of people passing through our doors each year.

The TK Foundation actively supports youth and maritime programmes that offer a hand up, not a handout, and that create a lasting impact, especially in terms of maritime employment opportunities. The TK Foundation considers UKSA’s work to be an embodiment of these values.

The future looks bright

We are looking to seek further funding to ensure we can continue to launch as many careers as possible and create a journey of inspiration for the lives of young people. Our plans are unashamedly ambitious as we drive the organisation forward into the next decade.

If you would like to support UKSA, please get in touch with our fundraising team ([email protected]) or click here for more information.