Boardmasters Foundation

Boardmasters Foundation 2025 funding applications will open in October 2025.

“I am thrilled to hear that nearly £600,000 in funding has been donated in the area by the Boardmasters Foundation, it really does make a difference here. Boardmasters and the Foundation have worked hard to support local community organisations and projects including funding towards our world class skatepark Concrete Waves, Newquay Foodbank and all schools in Newquay ensuring funding reaches those that need it most and helping to support children within our community.”

Drew Creek, Mayor of Newquay

2024 Funding Recipients

2024 FUNDS | £142,000 RAISED + DONATED

Recipients include…

Oceana UK • TR7 Skate • Surfing England Junior Surf Series • Newquay Mural Projects • The Wave Project • Newquay Food Bank • Cornwall Pride • Schools Consent Project • Newquay Surf Lifesaving • Holywell Bay Surf Lifesaving • Lusty Surf Lifesaving • Watergate Bay Surf Lifesaving • 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 • Newquay Primary Academy • Rock Choir Cornwall • Livewire Youth Project • Newquay Museum Group • St Mawgan Community Hall • Mawgan Porth Village Hall • Coppice Theatre • Alma Artspace CIC • Cscape Dance CIC • House of Damnation CIC • An Rosweyth Cornish Language • Gwealan Tops Adventure Playground • Nansledan Arts Festival • Nikki White Therapy CIC • Youth Art Connect CIC • Clear Emotional Trauma & Therapy Specialists • 99p Films CIC • Newquay Community Orchard • The 2 Minute Foundation • Auction House • Newquay Scouts • Newquay Boardriders • Surfing & Water Safety • Adaptive Surf England Para Team • UK Pro Surf Tour Documentary • Athlete World Title Sponsorship • Newquay Train Station Loos Refurbishment • Concrete Waves Skatepark Beginner Slope + more

Newquay Cribbar Mural

2024 recipient

The Boardmasters Foundation has funded a mural painted by artist Chris Dorning, breathing life into a building in the centre of Newquay, a stonesthrow from Fistral Beach.

‘It Stays With Us’ is a tribute to The Cribbar – Newquay’s big wave that breaks off Towan Headland, first ridden in 1966.

Over £20,000 donated to local schools

2023 RECIPIENT

Steven Mildenhall of Treviglas Academy said, “Being part of a school that is geographically so close to the one of the largest music festivals in the country feels very special, and the support that the Boardmasters Foundation has given the school is of huge value and benefit to our students. Not only does Boardmasters enable our school bands to...

Newquay Food Bank

2023 RECIPIENT

Zoe Nixon, Strategic Manager at Newquay Foodbank said, “Like other foodbanks, we’ve seen a massive increase in people coming to us. We’re up 37% on last year for the number of people using our services. The reasons people are coming to foodbanks are far more complex than they have been in the past. A large proportion of the issues are related to...

Wave Project

2023 RECIPIENT

Fred Andrews, Cornwall Team Leader at Wave Project said, “On behalf of my team here at the Wave Project, I’d like to say a huge thank you to the Boardmasters Foundation for this incredible donation. The money we have been awarded will be used to fund our award winning Surf Therapy sessions here in Newquay and across Cornwall, helping young peopl...

Clear Support Newquay

2023 RECIPIENT

Carolyn Webster, CEO, CLEAR Support said, “The most welcome donation from the Boardmasters Foundation has been used to develop a whole-town approach to safe-spaces in Newquay, enabling organisations across the town to collaborate and to access CLEAR training and resources. It has had an immediate impact in the creation of a network of Safe Space...

What is the Boardmasters Foundation?

Boardmasters has been raising money for good causes and projects since 2002, and in 2017 the Boardmasters Foundation was established; born out of our desire to give back and support the culture and surrounding communities that are at the heart of our festival.

The Boardmasters Foundation builds on and grows the annual fundraising and charitable donations that the festival has already made year-on-year.

Over the years The Boardmasters Foundation has supported a variety of local charities, organisations and projects across Cornwall. From Concrete Waves Skate Park, to Schools Consent Project, to Surf England Adaptive team, the Porth Residents Committee, Black Voices Cornwall and The Wave Project.

The Foundation also supports a number of local schools each year.

To date, the Boardmasters Foundation has raised & distributed almost £600,000 since 2017.

How does the Boardmasters Foundation work?

Each year, Boardmasters raises funds for the Foundation. We then review which projects and charities we will be supporting with one-off donations that year, whilst continuing to work with our long-term partners.

What is the funding criteria?

The Foundation aims to support individuals, groups, charities and organisations that fall under our key pillars of focus – Culture and Community.

CULTURE

Recipient or organisation that is heavily involved with and promotes surfing, music, creativity, education and/or Cornish culture.

COMMUNITY

Recipient or organisation in the immediate festival vicinity, (Newquay, Porth, Whipsiderry, Tregurrian, Watergate Bay and Fistral) that enhances or supports the lives of locals in the area.
Recipient or organisation within the county of Cornwall, that is involved with supporting diversity and inclusion (accessibility, gender equality, LGBTQIA+, POC and minority groups) and/or improving and raising awareness of societal issues such as (but not limited to) homelessness, mental health and negative environmental impacts.

How much can you donate to my charity / project / organisation?

On average, the foundation may support with approximately £500 – £1500 towards your fundraising target, but this will vary on a case by case basis. It’s important for us to understand how a potential donation will be spent, so we can assess the level of investment we can commit to. Please note, we’re not able to donate the entire cost of a project except in certain circumstances.

If I am successful, when are funds distributed?

Boardmasters Foundation funds are distributed to successful applicants in the Spring following applications, ie Boardmasters Foundation funds raised in 2025 will be distributed in Spring 2026.

When do applications open for 2025 funds?

2025 Applications will re-open in September 2025.

How much has the Foundation raised to date?

To date, the Boardmasters Foundation has raised and distributed nearly £600,000!

Can I donate to the Boardmasters Foundation?

Yes you can! CLICK HERE to make a donation. Thank you for helping to support culture and community across Cornwall.

Boardmasters' CEO giving a giant check to Newquay train station toilets

BOARDMASTERS FOUNDATION 2023 FUNDING

2023 FUNDS | £115,000

RECIPIENTS INCLUDE…

THE WAVE PROJECT • NEWQUAY FOOD BANK • SAFE SPACES NEWQUAY • SCHOOLS CONSENT PROJECT • NEWQUAY BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID) • BLACK VOICES CORNWALL • NANSLEDAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION • PORTH RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION • CORNWALL PRIDE • DROP IN AND SHARE CENTRE (DISC) NEWQUAY • TR7 SKATEPARK • UK PRO SURF TOUR INDEPENDENT FILM • NEWQUAY STREET ART INDEPENDENT PROJECT • BLYSTRA ARTS CIC • CLAY INDEPENDENT FILM • AMPLIFY (DJ LESSONS + WORKSHOPS) • AUCTION HOUSE (RECORDING STUDIO + EXHIBITION SPACE) • NEWQUAY BEER FESTIVAL • ADAPTIVE SURF ENGLAND • SURFING ENGLAND • NEWQUAY MARINE GROUP • MARINE CONSERVATION SOCIETY • NEWQUAY BOARDRIDERS CLUB • NEWQUAY SURFLIFE ASSOCIATION • NEWQUAY SCOUT CLUB • SURF LIFESAVING CLUBS • MAWGAN-IN-PYDER COMMUNITY SCHOOL • NEWQUAY JUNIOR ACADEMY • 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 ACADEMY + MULTI-YEAR DONATIONS TO CONCRETE WAVES SKATEPARK BEGINNER SLOPE + NEWQUAY TRAIN STATION TOILETS REFURBISHMENT

2022 RECIPIENTS | £105,000 RAISED

SCHOOLS CONSENT PROJECT . CORNWALL FOOD ACTION . SURFING ENGLAND . NEWQUAY TRAIN STATION TOILETS . WGB LIFESAVING CLUB . THE WAVE PROJECT . NEWQUAY JUNIOR ACADEMY . CHILDREN’S HOSPICE SOUTH WEST . NEWQUAY BOARDRIDERS CLUB . WATERGATE BAY HOTEL . BLACK VOICES CORNWALL . CONCRETE WAVES . NEWQUAY TOWN COUNCIL . TRENANCE LEARNING ACADEMY . NEWQUAY BEER FESTIVAL . MAYGAN-IN-PYDAR COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL . ST COLUMB MAJOR ACE ACADEMY . ST COLUMB MINOR ACE ACADEMY . THE BISHOPS C OF E LEARNING ACADEMY . TREVISKER COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL . PORTH RESIDENT ASSOCIATION . ST MAWGANS FC . MAN DOWN CORNWALL . THE MERMAID CENTRE