Oarsome Chance
Provide opportunities and experiences of vocational learning including carpentry and bike mechanics alongside an outdoor programme including rowing, sailing and mountain biking for young people at risk of exclusion from education. To build young peoples confidence and create opportunities for them to feel safe in achieving a pathway to change. The target group is young people aged 11-19yrs
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity achieved a net surplus of £126,849 for the 17-month period ended 31 August 2025, a significant turnaround from the previous deficit. The trustees report that free reserves of £165,073 are above the stated policy target of three months' core operating expenditure, and the auditor confirmed no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
“One employee had earnings more than £60,000 (2024 - one).” — page 25
“One employee had earnings more than £60,000 (2024 - one).” — page 25
“The Trustees have agreed that the charity should aim to hold a minimum level of reserves equivalent to three months of core operating expenditure, excluding restricted or project-specific funds.” — page 10
“Oarsome Chance (Trading) Ltd was formed to carry out trading activities for the charity, which holds 100% of the issued share capital.” — page 26
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/08/2025)
Trustees
- Neill Youngchair
- Gillian Robertson
- Kate Mai
- Lynn Power
- Oliver Fisher
- Simon Mathieson
- Simon Mortimore
- Suzie Cullen
- Vanessa Flapper
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/08/2025 | £1.5m | £1.4m |
| 31/03/2024 | £708k | £794k |
| 31/03/2023 | £578k | £767k |
| 31/03/2022 | £819k | £753k |
| 31/03/2021 | £689k | £571k |
Common questions
Is Oarsome Chance financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity achieved a net surplus of £126,849 for the 17-month period ended 31 August 2025, a significant turnaround from the previous deficit. The trustees report that free reserves of £165,073 are above the stated policy target of three months' core operating expenditure, and the auditor confirmed no material uncertainties regarding the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Scott Vevers Ltd.
What does the highest-paid employee of Oarsome Chance earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the more than £60,000 band, and 1 employees earned over £60,000.
Who funds Oarsome Chance?
Funders whose own accounts filings name Oarsome Chance as a grant recipient include SOCIETY OF THE HOLY CHILD JESUS CIO, NEWBY TRUST LIMITED, HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA CHARITABLE TRUST, SIR ROBERT GEFFERY'S ALMSHOUSE TRUST, SCHRODER CHARITY TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOCIETY OF THE HOLY CHILD JESUS CIO | FY2025 | £10k | Grants |
| NEWBY TRUST LIMITED | FY2022 | £10k | Education |
| HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2023 | £10k | coastal rowing scheme which seeks to involve children who are disengaged with schooling |
| HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2025 | £10k | |
| HENLEY ROYAL REGATTA CHARITABLE TRUST | FY2022 | £7k | |
| SIR ROBERT GEFFERY'S ALMSHOUSE TRUST | FY2023 | £6k | Grant funding of activities |
| SCHRODER CHARITY TRUST | FY2022 | £5k | |
| THE HOBSON CHARITY LIMITED | FY2025 | £5k | Youth |
| LORD BARNBY'S FOUNDATION | FY2022 | £2k | |
| ENERGISE ME | FY2022 | £2k |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 25/04/2024 | £394k | Oarsome Chance Community Programme |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 21/03/2024 | £19k | Protecting our infrastructure during the cost of living crisis |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 25/11/2022 | £10k | Cooking And Nutrition Programme for vulnerable young people |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 25/06/2021 | £10k | Upgrading IT to meet the demands of our services for vulnerable young people |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 07/05/2020 | £10k | COVID-19 crisis: Extended support to vulnerable young people |
| Sport England | 16/03/2020 | £6k | Mountain Bikes and trailer to extend activity |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| FRAZER TRUST | 2 | £16k |
| CHAPMAN CHARITABLE TRUST | 2 | £5k |
| GRANGE FARM CENTRE | 1 | — |
| THE MOHN WESTLAKE FOUNDATION | 1 | £620k |
| THE WESTMINSTER FOUNDATION | 1 | £300k |
| THE FIDELITY UK FOUNDATION | 1 | £150k |
| THE TUIXEN FOUNDATION | 1 | £124k |
| PETER DIXON CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £105k |
Charities like this
- THE AHOY CENTRE
- COMMUNITY HELP AND NEIGHBOURLY CARE FOR EVERYONE
- OCEAN YOUTH TRUST SOUTH
- THE CIRDAN SAILING TRUST (INCORPORATING THE FARAMIR TRUST) LIMITED
- ADVENTURES OFFSHORE
- CHANCE (UK) LIMITED
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oarsome Chance | £1.5m | more than £60,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE AHOY CENTRE | £549k | £60,001 - £70,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| COMMUNITY HELP AND NEIGHBOURLY CARE FOR EVERYONE | £100k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| OCEAN YOUTH TRUST SOUTH | £852k | — | 0 | unclear | 7.0% | no doubt |
| THE CIRDAN SAILING TRUST (INCORPORATING THE FARAMIR TRUST) LIMITED | £719k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| ADVENTURES OFFSHORE | £108k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |