We know that if every girl has a full education, the world will be a better place – for everyone.

However, studies show that when schools resume after Covid 19, the group of children most at risk of not returning to education are disadvantaged and vulnerable girls and those in poverty.  We are raising funds to Keep Maiden Moving so that our work with their communities can continue! 

30 years ago, Maiden carried the first all-female crew to sail around the planet when she competed in the worlds’ toughest ever yacht race. Her mission was to prove that women could compete alongside men.  In 2015 she was restored to her former glory and in November 2018 Maiden set sail on a new mission; to empower and inspire women and girls around the globe and to enable girls into education.

But now, she needs your help!  In March 2020 the world tour was postponed due to the pandemic. But we must keep going so that when it is safe to do so we can set sail again. When the tour resumes, we will be covering 150,000 miles over three years and visiting over 60 destinations in over 30 countries.  The more we can raise for each mile, the more communities we can work with and the more girls we can support.

PLEASE help us by sponsoring a mile for as much as you can. 

You can donate without or with a unique Maiden reward as a thank you from us!

The Maiden Factor - A tale of determination in the face of adversity

Skippered by Tracy Edwards MBE, Maiden carried the first ever all-female crew to sail in the 1989/90 Whitbread Round the World Race. 

Despite fierce opposition, sexism and criticism, at 11am on 2nd September 1989 Tracy and her team squared up on the start line of the Whitbread Round the World Race. They went on to win two of the toughest legs coming second overall.

Maiden was sold after the race and lost for 25 years, then in 2015 she was found, rescued and restored to her former glory.

Maiden Now!

Maiden set sail in November 2018 on an initial three-year world tour.  During the tour so far, we have facilitated; 

- Storybooks and other reading materials in local languages, together with teacher training and on-going support as well as child-friendly learning environments

- Training for women to give life skills classes and camps for girls

- Girls’ tuition, uniforms and safe transport to school

- Mentoring for communities and families

- Resources for girls to learn to read and write

- New teachers and provided coaching for a year

We work with and support communities and groups who wish to enable girls into education and empower and support them to remain in education through their teenage years. 

Maiden is living proof, to the girls whom we support, that Anything is Possible.

Maiden inspires and empowers girls and shows them what they can achieve.

Maiden proves to girls that if we work together we can achieve real equality.

Our work is more important now than ever.  

Would you like to be a Maiden fundraiser?

If you want to create your own fundraiser you can join this fundraising campaign and support The Maiden Factor Foundation in our mission to enable girls across the globe into education.

Become a fundraiser

Here's how:

1. Gather your own 'Maiden Crew'

2. Click the blue 'become a fundraiser' button at the top right-hand side of this page and set up your own fundraising challenge.

3. Download our fundraising pack full of downloadable images, social media and email templates to spread the word far and wide Click for pack

4. Send the link out far and wide and everything you raise will contribute to the Maiden's own fundraising 

*If you need assistance in setting up your campaign, contact our fundraising coach [email protected] for support.

Additional Information

The Maiden Factor Foundation works with and supports communities and groups that enable girls into education and empowers and supports them to remain in education through their teenage years. The programme participants are girls, aged five to eighteen, teachers, schools, communities and groups who are engaged at each of the stops that Maiden makes during her voyage. 

Maiden visits each place for various lengths of time and days are utilised to engage in activities related to our Community Engagement and Awareness Program which can include;

Open Day - Local schools and members of the public visit the boat to learn about sailing around the world. The children are also inspired by the all-female crew who sail on the boat 

School Visits - The crew and team do a presentation at some local schools that is designed to encourage and inspire the children and teach them about sailing

Messages of Hope - Schools at each stop are selected to write Messages of Hope. These are then taken on board Maiden to the next stop/country and also added to our website

Hands on the Spinnaker - Children are invited to place their handprints on the spinnaker sail which is seen everywhere Maiden travels to, as a symbol of joining hands around the world

Screenings - We hold screenings of our BAFTA nominated film 'Maiden' depicting Maiden’s historic race 30 years ago, at the places where Maiden visits and we have a Q&A afterwards for the children

Sailing - We can take up to seven young people out sailing at stopovers and we also take Milebuilders on Maiden for each leg of her world tour where they are mentored by top female sailors to help them into the sailing industry

Schools’ Online Resources - Resources for teachers and schools are currently being developed and will launch in 2021

Legacy Grants - Grants will be made to community programmes at stopovers, which empower and enable girls into education and support them to complete their schooling