The work of the charity is informed and inspired by Sir Thomas Lipton, the Glasgow-born grocer (1848-1931) who came from a lower-working class family and started with nothing. He built up a successful UK-wide chain of grocery stores before buying his own tea plantations in Sri Lanka. Through Lipton’s Tea he subsequently became one of the world’s first global entrepreneurs.
In Lipton’s day the biggest and most talked-about international sporting event was the America’s Cup. Though not a sailor himself, Lipton made five challenges for the America’s Cup between 1899 and 1930. He never won, but through his challenges became one of the most famous, admired and loved people of his day.
Through business and sailing, the Lipton name became synonymous with hard work, determination, resilience, fun, charm, sportsmanship, perseverance, fair play, teamwork and marketing innovation.
Sir Thomas himself believed in the skills of sailing and connection with the sea as an ideal means to help those trying to make their way in life and thrive in the world of work. He was just as passionate about sailing not being elitist, but accessible for everyone, regardless of their background.
For these reasons, Sir Thomas Lipton can help and inspire children with most to gain.
Our Story
2010
The Sir Thomas Lipton Foundation is registered as a Scottish charity with Bob Fisher and Laurence Brady as founding trustees.
The foundation is created with the proceeds from Laurence Brady’s biography of Sir Thomas Lipton, The Man Who Challenged America. In the wake of the financial crash it proves to be the worst time to seek funding for a charity start-up in Scotland or the UK. No new funding is found.
2011
Double Olympic sailing gold medallist Shirley Robertson and Australian Olympic bronze medallist, Ian Ruff, join as trustees. Using proceeds from sales of The Man Who Challenged America a pilot project to deliver a tailored programme for disadvantaged children is agreed with Canberra Yacht Club. The Australians call the project Buoyed Up.
2012
Further approaches for funding in the UK are unsuccessful. Buoyed Up in Australia is a great success. A volunteer committee is formed to develop it.
2013
Positive feedback from the children and a successful independent audit of Buoyed Up by the University of Canberra gives first evidence of its value for UK funders.
2014
Supported by several charitable trusts and foundations, the first Buoyed Up takes place in Scotland for 25 Primary 6 pupils (aged 10 to 12) of Saracen Primary in Possilpark in Glasgow in partnership with V Ships and Clyde Cruising Club.
Buoyed Up is endorsed by Yachting Australia and is adopted by yacht clubs in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia.
2015
Chirnsyde Primary and St Monica’s Primary in Milton, Glasgow, join Saracen Primary as Buoyed Up partners.
A motion is passed in the Scottish Parliament recognising the value of Buoyed Up and the work of the Sir Thomas Lipton Foundation.
2016
Glencoats Primary in Ferguslie Park, Paisley becomes the fourth Scottish school. Championed by Bob Fisher, pupils from Frobisher Primary – in what has often been labelled as England’s most deprived community, in Jaywick, Essex – become the first to benefit from Buoyed Up in the UK outside Scotland.
Pupils attending Carrington Primary near the KwaMashu township outside Durban in South Africa are the first to go through the Buoyed Up programme, delivered in partnership with Sail Africa.
2017
Responding to demand from Northern Ireland, the first Buoyed Up programme is delivered in partnership with Kilcooley Primary School in Bangor and Ballyholme Yacht Club.
2018
In 2018 Buoyed Up is delivered for the first time in Wales, in partnership with Christchurch Primary in Rhyl.
The first detailed evaluation titled the Buoyed Up Watchers’ Guide is also produced. Headlines from individual schools included:
- 80% of pupils’ attitudes and behaviour exceeded expectations after the Buoyed Up programme
- 89% of pupils said the maritime World of Work visit was excellent
- 74% exceeded expectations in levels of enthusiasm and motivation after Buoyed Up.
Laurence Brady is an adviser and contributor to the BBC documentary about Sir Thomas Lipton, titled The Man Who Charmed The World, presented by former Dragons’ Den star, Duncan Bannatyne.
2019
A Buoyed Up programme is delivered successfully for over 450 young people across 12 schools in all four home nations of the UK. These include the Foundation’s first special needs partner, Longstone School in Belfast, which made a special request to be part of Buoyed Up.
2020
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the necessary decision is taken to completely cancel Buoyed Up.
A special 60-page Buoyed Up Log Book is produced and distributed to all partner schools, generously supported and printed as a gift-in-kind by Witherby Publishing Group.
2021
Given the level of uncertainty about a full and safe return of all pupils to school in the summer term of 2021, trustees conclude that it is not in their, or the schools’ best interests to plan for Buoyed Up sailing in the summer term, and Buoyed Up is cancelled for a second year.
2022
Buoyed Up returns in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland but not yet in Wales. Buoyed Up delivery is changed so that class groups learn to sail over three days in smaller groups.
2023
A pilot of the new Buoyed Up@Work experience for the future Buoyed Up Yacht Club takes place in partnership with City of Glasgow College for 11 primary schools, nearly 500 children, over two days in Glasgow, courtesy of generous in-kind support the college itself as well as BAe Systems, Clyde Marine Training, Seapeak, Stream Marine Training and V Group.
In response to a request to establish Buoyed Up on the Isle of Wight, a new programme begins in partnership with Sea View Yacht Club, supporting Nine Acres Primary in Newport.
2024
Buoyed Up programmes continue with existing partners. Thanks to maritime industry introductions, and in response to demand from primary schools, new opportunities to develop future Buoyed Up programmes are explored in the North East of Scotland and North West England.
2025
Supported by Belfast Harbour, and working with the recently created Northern Ireland Maritime and Offshore Network (NIMO) a first Buoyed Up@Work experience takes place in Belfast for over 100 pupils from four schools in Bangor, Belfast and Newtownards.
The interactive maritime STEM workshop sessions are run and supported by Belfast Harbour, ESB, MJM Marine, North Channel Wind and Stena Line.
The Sir Thomas Lipton Foundation becomes one of four nominated charities of London International Shipping Week 2025.