Our Journey

Named after the year of the first America's Cup race, the 1851 Trust was launched by Sir Ben Ainslie and Sir Keith Mills during their British challenge for the 35th America's Cup.

The charity aims to create transformational experiences for young people which increase science capital by demonstrating how STEM subjects contribute to real-world challenges.

HRH The Duchess of Cambridge supports the launch of our Tech Deck education space and STEM Crew digital education platform.

Since then, we have hosted 10,000 young people for STEM workshops on the Tech Deck and STEM Crew has developed into an education hub used by thousands of teachers internationally.

To coincide with the 35th America’s Cup in Bermuda, we deliver our first series of multi-activity roadshows to engage new groups of young people in STEM and sailing. The roadshows combine fun and inspiring STEM activities with exciting on-water sailing experiences, as well as opportunities for personal growth and development.

Our work engaging new groups of young people with sailing is recognised by the famous Cowes Week sailing regatta as we are appointed official charity for 2018 and 2019.

The partnership helps us raise awareness of our sailing and STEM education programmes within the sailing community and visitors to the regatta. In 2021 we are appointed to deliver new educational resources as part of the 5G Connected Cowes project.

INEOS Rebels Crew becomes our flagship participation programme delivered in partnership with watersports centres in some of the most deprived areas of the UK.

We develop a sailing programme to re-engage young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with learning, and help to deliver on INEOS's commitment to create a legacy during Sir Ben Ainslie and the INEOS TEAM UK's challenge for the 36th America's Cup.

The success of our pop up roadshows attracts support from the Department for Transport, which funds a programme designed to engage girls in STEM careers and the maritime sector.

The programme is delivered at coastal locations around the UK in partnership with STEM ambassadors from over 100 companies.

Our new sports resources bring alive Eliud Kipchoge’s recording beating sub-2hr marathon by highlighting the amazing science behind the INEOS 1:59 Challenge.

With support from the INEOS team, we create and deliver a unique STEM activity day as a live lesson for students in school and at home, in the UK and internationally.

Bringing together elite sports stars such as Sir Lewis Hamilton, Geraint Thomas and Sir Ben Ainslie, our Zero Days programme is adopted by 600 schools to help educate, inform and reassure one million students as they return to school.

Partnerships with new sports people and funders help us to change more young peoples’ perceptions with hands-on activities inspired by ultimate frisbee and Euro 2020.

Together with Sir Ben Ainslie, we embark on plans to launch a brand new, free innovative educational platform for secondary school students.  Focusing on environmental science, our digital resources highlight the causes and impacts of climate change, to accelerate changes in behaviour and empower young people to become the problem solvers of the future.

1851 Trust announces ambition to support climate education of 1 million UK school pupils as research reveals over half of 11-16 year-olds are worried about what the planet will be like in the future. Launch of climate education resources set to equip children and educators with skills and knowledge to understand climate science

The Butterfield Climate Action Grant is on offer to schools in Bermuda. The grant will be awarded to a chosen project that engages the community around sustainability issues and channels young people’s passion for local environmental issues into tangible actions, inspiring others to follow the lead.

Cobham Ultra partners with the 1851 Trust’s STEMCrew school’s roadshows to inspire the next generation of innovators

The Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team has been crowned winners of the Season 4 Impact League, a second championship which tracks the actions teams make to reduce their carbon footprint and increase inclusivity in sailing.

Goodwall and the 1851 Trust launch #PowerUp Challenge with Olympic gold medallists Sir Ben Ainslie and Hannah Mills to engage five million youth in STEM and Climate Education. A global initiative using the excitement of elite sport to engage five million young people in climate action.