Kinsale Charity Wins €295,734 to Grow Therapeutic Sailing Programme

25th November 2025

Afloat.ie Team

The A.K. Ilen on Dublin Bay, as the charity’s expanded hub project, is launched. Credit: Afloat

The Cork‑based charity Sailing Into Wellness has been awarded a grant of €295,734.56 to establish permanent hubs and enhance its therapeutic sailing work, the Government’s social innovation fund has announced.

The funds come from the New Solutions Scaling Up Scheme, which supports proven social innovation projects ready for growth.

The charity delivers educational and therapeutic sailing programmes, using the sea as a platform for personal and community development.

Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O'Sullivan said: “I was struck by the passion of the team and the transformative effect this programme has on participants.”

The grant will enable Sailing Into Wellness to establish permanent hubs in areas currently served by its mobile unit. It will also develop a new Trainer Pathway to bolster existing operations.

Currently the charity operates in Cork, Dublin, Waterford, Limerick, Kerry, Galway and Sligo. southernstar.ie

The fund is co‑financed by the European Social Fund + 2021‑2027 and aims to tackle poverty, social exclusion and disadvantage through community‑based innovation.

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