Registered Charity No. 1133063 · Norfolk

Keeping the old boathouses of Whitlingham Broad open to everyone.

The Whitlingham Boathouses Foundation looks after the historic boathouses on the banks of the River Yare at Whitlingham, near Norwich — maintaining the buildings and the waterfront so that sailing, rowing, paddling and training on the water remain open to the whole community.

About the Foundation

A working heritage, not a museum piece

For generations the boathouses at Whitlingham have been the starting point for days on the Broad — for club sailors, school groups, families and anyone who simply wanted to mess about in boats. The Foundation was established to make sure that tradition continues.

We are a charitable company, registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Our purpose is the preservation and upkeep of the boathouses and their surrounding open space, and the advancement of education and amateur sport on the water. We act as an umbrella and resource body for the local clubs and voluntary groups who call Whitlingham home.

Everything we do is for the public benefit: children and young people learning to sail for the first time, older people staying active, people with disabilities getting afloat, and the general public enjoying one of Norfolk's best-loved stretches of river.

What We Do

Our charitable work

Buildings & open space

We own and maintain the boathouses, slipways and waterfront at Whitlingham Lane, keeping them safe, sound and in daily use rather than letting them fall into disrepair.
Education & training

We support instruction and training on the water — from beginners' courses to seamanship and water-safety skills — working alongside the clubs and instructors based at the Broad.
Amateur sport

We provide the facilities that make grassroots sailing, rowing and paddling possible: boat storage, launching, changing rooms and space for clubs to meet and grow.
A resource for others

As an umbrella body we help other charities and voluntary organisations share the site, keeping Whitlingham affordable and welcoming for community groups of every kind.

People

The team behind the boathouses

Chief Executive Officer

Charity Commission

Our Chief Executive leads the day-to-day work of the Foundation: caring for the buildings, supporting the clubs based at the Broad, and developing the training and community programmes that keep the boathouses busy all year round.

“These boathouses have launched thousands of first sails. Our job is simply to make sure they launch thousands more.”

Andrew Douglas Ross
Chair of Trustees
Chairs the board and guides the Foundation's long-term stewardship of the boathouses and waterfront. Trustee since August 2020.
Helen Frances Middleton
Honorary Treasurer
Looks after the charity's finances, budgets and annual reporting to the Charity Commission. Trustee since August 2020.
Deborah Carolyn Conway
Company Secretary
Responsible for governance, board administration and the Foundation's records. Trustee since May 2024.
Mark Heazle
Trustee — Buildings & Maintenance
Oversees the care and repair of the boathouses, slipways and grounds. Joined the board in February 2025.
Robert William Robinson
Trustee — Community & Clubs
Leads our relationships with the clubs and voluntary groups based at Whitlingham. Joined the board in February 2025.

Registered Details

Governance & registration

Charity name: Whitlingham Boathouses Foundation Ltd
Charity number: 1133063 (England & Wales)
Registered office: Whitlingham Boathouses, Whitlingham Lane, Trowse, Norwich NR14 8TR
Area of operation: Norfolk
Regulator: Registered with and regulated by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Charity reporting is up to date.

Contact

Get in touch

Enquiries

For membership, bookings, volunteering or general questions about the Foundation:

Email: admin@whitlinghamboathouses.co.uk
Telephone: 07410 391838

Visit us

Whitlingham Boathouses
Whitlingham Lane
Trowse
Norwich
NR14 8TR

Keeping the old boathouses of Whitlingham Broad open to everyone.

A working heritage, not a museum piece

Our charitable work

Buildings & open space

Education & training