The Pioneer Sailing Trust
Analysis
The Pioneer Sailing Trust is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Brightlingsea. It was registered in September 1999, 27 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, amateur sport and environment/conservation/heritage, which this site groups under amateur sport and recreation. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03830241). It says it other charitable activities.
In the financial year ending October 2025, The Pioneer Sailing Trust reported income of £553k and spending of £512k, spending 93% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from October 2021 to October 2025, income fell from £560k to £553k (-1.2%), an average of -0.3% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to October 2025, when income rose by 72%. Over the whole period it spent 103% of the income it received.
Among 12,174 England and Wales charities whose main cause is amateur sport and recreation and that reported income, The Pioneer Sailing Trust sits at the 97th percentile: it is larger than about 97% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 90th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Shaftesbury Youth Club (£552k), 105th Sheffield (High Green) Scout Group (£557k) and Community Playcentre @ Walberton (£550k).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from charitable activities 68%, donations and legacies 17% and trading 15%. Charitable activities took 97% of spending and raising funds 0.0%. Reserves of £79k would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 7 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 17%
- Charitable activities 68%
- Trading 15%
- Investments 0.0%
In the charity's own words
Pioneer CK18, a 1st Class Essex Smack, has been restored by the Trust. The Trust provides sail training and recreational activities to persons who have need of such facilities in the interests of social welfare by reason of their age, youth, disability, infirmity, poverty or social or economic circumstances. Boatbuilder apprenticeships are provided to train young people for future employment.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Shaftesbury Youth Club | Birkenhead | £552k |
| 105th Sheffield (High Green) Scout Group | Sheffield | £557k |
| Community Playcentre @ Walberton | Arundel | £550k |
| Sunshine House Wigan | Wigan | £564k |