Since 2017, the foundation has donated almost £600,000 to community projects, causes and cultural initiatives across Cornwall
This year includes £33k donated to local schools, £15k to local surf lifesaving and boardriders, over £20k to environmental causes and over £40k to local projects, organisations and charities.
This year’s recipients include Surfing England Junior Series, Newquay Foodbank, TR7 Skate, The Wave Project, Cornwall Pride, and over a dozen schools across the region.
The Boardmasters Foundation is proud to announce the organisations and projects that will receive funding from the money raised at Boardmasters festival in 2024. This year, more than 50 organisations across Cornwall will benefit, receiving a combined total of over £140,000 in donations, as the Foundation continues its mission to support the community, culture and environment that make the festival’s Cornwall home so special. Established in 2017, the Boardmasters Foundation has now raised almost £600,000, supporting hundreds of organisations including schools, charities, arts collectives, surf clubs, mental health organisations and youth programmes.
The 2024 donation supports a diverse list of recipients. Funding will go toward projects in education, surf safety, mental health, creative arts, youth services, and environmental initiatives to name but a few. Recipients include partners such as The Wave Project, Surfing England Junior Series and The Schools Consent Project, as well as organisations like Newquay Primary Academy, ALMA Artspace CIC, Nikki White Therapy CIC, and 99p Films.
Andrew Topham, CEO and Founder of Boardmasters Festival said, “Each year, we’re inspired by the incredible work being done in Cornwall. The Boardmasters Foundation is our way of giving back to this place we’re so lucky to call home. We want to say thank you to every single festivalgoer and partner who contributed – no matter how big or small the donation, you’ve helped make a tangible difference.”
Schools across the region are once again a key focus for funding. Over £33,000 has been awarded to schools including Mawgan-in-Pydar Community Primary School, Newquay Junior Academy, Newquay Tretherras, St Columb Major ACE Academy, St Columb Minor ACE Academy, The Bishops’ C of E Learning Academy, Trenance Learning Academy, Trevisker Community Primary School, Treviglas School, Nansledan School and Newquay Primary Academy.
Youth and community groups are once again at the heart of the Foundation. Funding has been awarded to Livewire Youth Project, which supports young people through music, mentoring and creative expression, and to Newquay Scouts, helping to foster outdoor learning and leadership. Rock Choir, a community of local singers, continues to bring people together through the power of song, while Gwealan Tops Adventure Playground provides open-access outdoor play experiences. Youth Art Connect CIC offers creative opportunities for young people to explore identity and personal growth through arts-led initiatives.
TR7 Skatepark in Newquay which serves as a dynamic community skate space and a cornerstone for youth culture received funds. The Foundation’s support will help further develop this facility, which offers a safe environment for empowering disadvantaged youth. The funds will support towards the facilitation of membership packs.
Arts and culture organisations are also strongly represented. The Foundation has supported the Newquay Murals project (MUQY), and has funded a mural painted by artist Chris Dorning, breathing life into a building in the centre of Newquay, a stones throw from Fistral Beach. Other recipients include House of Damnation CIC, known for immersive storytelling and theatrical experiences, as well as Coppice Theatre, which delivers innovative performances for young audiences across the South West. Cscape Dance CIC brings accessible and engaging contemporary dance to communities. Meanwhile, An Rosweyth, a Cornish cultural group, and the Nansledan Arts Festival celebrate and promote Cornwall’s heritage and community spirit through festivals,workshops and exhibitions.
Environmental and surf-related organisations are a core focus of the Foundation, too. This year’s donation to The 2 Minute Foundation will further its vital campaigns, encouraging simple yet impactful actions like beach cleans and plastic reduction. Newquay Boardriders and WGB Surf Life Saving Club continue to nurture the next generation of surfers, ensuring ocean safety, surf access and competition pathways. Alongside these, multiple Surf Lifesaving Clubs have received donations to maintain essential equipment and training for volunteer lifesavers who keep Cornish beaches safe.
The Foundation is also proud to support Oceana UK, a leading ocean conservation charity. Oceana works globally and locally to restore marine biodiversity. Boardmasters Foundation has this year donated £20,0000 to support Oceana’s mission to protect the world’s oceans and preserve them for future generations, aligning with the festival’s deep-rooted connection to the sea. The donation will help fund ongoing campaigns to ensure the UK’s marine environment is not only protected, but allowed to thrive for generations to come.
Hugo Tagholm, Executive Director of Oceana UK said, “Through our partnership with Boardmasters festival we have had an incredible opportunity to further Oceana’s hard-hitting campaigns to stop big business from destroying marine sanctuaries and ocean life around our island nation. Since the last festival we’ve taken the government to court over polluting oil and gas licences; created a roadmap to regenerate and restore thriving fish populations; and piled on the pressure to end the destructive bottom-trawl fishing in marine protected areas. We look forward to working with Boardmasters again this year to celebrate our ocean and take action to protect it.”
Returning partner The Schools Consent Project will once again receive funding from the Boardmasters Foundation. This partnership has proven to be a powerful tool in promoting early education around consent, respect and personal boundaries in Cornish secondary schools. Multi-year donations also continue in 2025. The Foundation remains committed to the refurbishment of Newquay Train Station toilets, a vital community asset for locals and visitors alike. Support also continues for Concrete Waves, Newquay’s world-class skatepark, with this year’s donation funding improvements to the beginner slope, ensuring more young people can safely access and enjoy the sport.
The Boardmasters Foundation will open applications for 2025 funding this Autumn. To learn more, or to sign up for updates, visit boardmasterscommunity.com/boardmasters-foundation.
Boardmasters Festival returns to Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach from 6-10 August 2025. Final tier tickets are available now via boardmasters.com.
