The Impact League is SailGP’s Podium for the Planet. It tracks the positive actions that the global league’s ten national teams make to reduce their overall carbon footprint and accelerate inclusivity in sailing.

A global survey published in the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health in 2023 reported that of an international cohort of more than 95,000 young people between the ages of 16-25 – 75% of respondents considered the future frightening, with 83% believing that humans have inadequately cared for the planet.

Through the collaboration, SailGP, Youth Sport Trust and Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team have launched the ‘Youth Sport Trust and SailGP Impact League Schools Award’. The award will recognise schools, School Games Organisers, Active Partnerships, National Governing Bodies of Sport, and National Disability Sports Organisations who contribute to developing a better planet by embracing sustainable school sport and the School Games Eco-Friendly value.

The collaboration is hosted as a pilot in the first phase of implementing SailGP’s Impact League into schools – initially in the UK – with the ambition to expand into schools in the additional nine national teams countries including Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland and the United States.

Encouraging the use of sport as a vehicle to implement and communicate positive climate action, applicants of the award will be asked to submit evidence of what they have achieved across one or more of the following criteria;

• Active spaces – creating sustainable and inclusive spaces to promote physical activity among young people
• Active travel – promoting innovative and sustainable modes of transport
• Engagement – using the power of environmental activism to engage and empower a new generation of young people in physical activity and school sport
• Sustainable Food – encouraging hydration and promoting healthy eating that is locally sourced and sustainably produced.

Speaking about the collaboration, Youth Sport Trust Chief Executive Ali Oliver MBE, said:

“It’s incredibly exciting to bring the innovative concept of the Impact League into school sport. We know we all have a responsibility to reduce our impact on the planet and school sport can be a great context to educate and inspire future generations. Alongside our Youth Sport Trust Young Changemakers, we are passionate about environmental sustainability. We look forward to seeing how schools and our partners embrace the challenge of building more conscious participants and competitors and we’re keen to see how this new collaboration with SailGP will evolve and deepen in future.”

SailGP's Chief Purpose Officer Fiona Morgan said;

“I am a huge fan of what Youth Sport Trust do and am inspired by their approach and passion so collaborating with them to take the Impact League outside of our league is a hugely exciting moment. The Impact League uses behavioural science to ignite the competitive nature of our athletes and embed sustainability action into the fabric of sport. It also serves as an education piece to shift individuals' mindsets to make better decisions for the planet. The next generation are frightened for the future and see that there is no Planet B. The school sport environment provides the perfect platform for embedding sustainable practices with young people and we can’t wait to find out what schools have achieved through the award.”

Hannah Mills, SailGP’s Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team Strategist, and Sail GP Global Impact Ambassador said;

“At Emirates Great British Sail GP Team we have been focussed for the past two years on providing in person and online climate education for young people through our charity partner, the 1851 Trust climate education programme - Protect our Future. The education platform uses the actions of athletes and the power of sport to inspire climate action in schools across the world. We aim to support this great initiative by the Youth Sport Trust and SailGP to support young people with science based climate education and help them protect the planet.”

Schools and organisations can find out more about the awards and submit their application at https://www.yourschoolgames.com/taking-part/impact-awards/

About SailGP

SailGP is the world’s most exciting racing on water. The global championship features national teams battling in short, intense races at iconic stadium-style venues across the globe. The high-tech, high-speed action features sailing’s best athletes racing in identical hydrofoiling F50 catamarans, flying at speeds approaching 100 km/h. SailGP also races for a better future, championing a world powered by nature. Visit SailGP.com for more information.

About the 1851 Trust

Founded by Sir Ben Ainslie in 2014, with HRH The Princess of Wales as its Royal Patron, the 1851 Trust is a specialist education charity committed to harnessing the power of athletes and elite sport to inspire young people globally through STEM learning and climate action. www.1851trust.org.uk