Reverend Canon William Broad

Canon Broad set up the charities the Cirdan Sailing Trust and The Faramir Trust (the two subsequently merged) to help young people develop their mental, physical and spiritual capacities through their leisure time by the provision of training and instruction in sailing.

In 1983, Canon Broad, an experienced sailor, used his family inheritance to found the Cirdan Sailing Trust, a charity that aims to provide opportunities for self development for children and young people from all backgrounds including those who are physically, mentally and socially disadvantaged. Canon Broad has encouraged and sustained the support of his family; one of his sons is a trustee while the other regularly sends young people from the behavioural support unit he works with to make use of the unique experience provided by the Cirdan Sailing Trust. Canon Broad’s brother and daughter have also been significantly involved with the Trust providing considerable financial assistance.

For 22 years Canon Broad has been committed to providing development opportunities for young people acting as the first Executive Officer of the Cirdan Trust and now Chairman of Trustees (both voluntary posts). Under his leadership the sailing fleet has expanded to five sailing vessels, which has subsequently enabled 1,700 young people each year to go sailing. To date over 25,000 young people have benefited from the experience and have as a result, been provided the opportunity to develop team building skills, motivation, discipline, self-esteem and increased self-confidence. The Trust works with schools, youth groups, youth offending and probation teams, the Prison Service and disabled groups to provide a well-structured environment in which youth leaders can build working relationships with the young people in their care.

In 1990, Canon Broad founded the sister charity, The Faramir Trust with a personal investment of £900,000 to expand the reach of the Trust. He also set up the bursary scheme ‘The Lionel Broad Bursary’ in memory of his father to provide financial assistance to those unable to meet the costs of a voyage. This is supported by donations from his brother and contributions from Canon Broad. In addition to these financial commitments, Canon Broad also provided the Trust with a £250,000 interest free loan to enable the organisation to remain solvent and successfully challenge a dispute with Customs and Excise.

Canon Broad was also Chairman of the William McCann Trust (now part of the Excelsior Trust), aiming to restore the only remaining Hull Sailing Trawler and use it to educate young people in the history of sea. Bill has recently been involved in endowments in the field of Asylum seekers, making a £100,000 grant to ‘Justice First’ which he also chairs and is currently part-financing a centre for the Medical Foundation for the Care and Victims of Torture in the North-East.

'I cannot put into words what a difference this trip has made to their lives. They have progressed as active citizens and developed as individuals as well as achieving fantastic team working skills that should have a great impact on their future lives’

Caroline Clark, Barnardo’s Residential & Support Worker

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