What The Ulysses Trust does

The Ulysses Trust is a UK registered charity (Registered Charity No. 1170600) founded in 1992, headquartered at Lichfield, Staffordshire. It is the only organisation dedicated exclusively to supporting the development of the UK's Volunteer Reserve Forces (Army Reserve, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Auxiliary Air Force), University Officer Training Corps (UOTC), and Cadet Forces (CCF, ACF, Sea Cadets, RAF Air Cadets) through challenge and adventure. The Trust's core product is expedition grant funding, with grants typically covering up to 33% of the total cost of an expedition (UK expeditions range £24–£1,000 per cadet with a £5,900 unit average; overseas expeditions range £8,000–£80,000). Around this core it operates an ecosystem of supporting programmes: the Odyssey Circle donor society, the Egg Banjo Fund monthly giving campaign, the Mark Pendleton Bursary for Royal Navy Cadets, the Royal Patron Expedition Awards, and published annual Impact Reports backed by a multi-year outcome measurement survey programme.

In 2025 the Trust supported 142 expeditions and 3,235 participants with £369,307 in grants, described as its best year on record. Cumulative since 1992, the Trust has supported over 49,000 cadets and reservists across more than 3,350 expeditions, distributing nearly £4.37 million in grants. The operating model is volunteer-intensive: only 7 paid staff exist, supplemented by trustees, Grant Applications Committee members and Advisory Officers. Revenue is generated entirely through charitable giving — individual donations, monthly giving, corporate partnerships (Forces Support £60,000, Cambridge Management Consulting £10,000, BAE Systems as anchor of the New Horizons campaign which has exceeded £2 million, Mind Foundry's Walking the World challenge), events, and legacy gifts. Distribution of grants occurs directly via a structured 5-part online application process managed in-house.

The Trust holds Royal Patronage from His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh (established 2025), was awarded the Geographical Award 2024 by the Royal Geographical Society, and received Silver Status in the Ministry of Defence's Defence Employer Recognition Scheme in 2026. Governance transitioned in 2023 with the appointment of Brigadier Tim Seal as Chair and Capt Polly Marsh DL as the Trust's first CEO, marking a structural professionalisation step. Operational partnerships extend the Trust's reach, including City Veterans CIC as charity partner for 2025–2026, Tall Ships Youth Trust for sailing expeditions, Royal Geographical Society on the Explore bursaries programme, and co-funding arrangements with Wessex RFCA and ACCT UK.

Name

The Ulysses Trust

Legal name

The Ulysses Trust

Website

https://ulyssestrust.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Ulysses Trust is a UK charity founded in 1992 that provides grants to fund expeditions and adventurous training for UK Volunteer Reserve, UOTC, and Cadet Forces units. It is the only organisation exclusively dedicated to supporting these groups through challenge and adventure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Expedition Grant Funding

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Charitable Giving & Philanthropic Trust Advisory (FSAEAKAH)

Keywords

• Adventure training grants
• Cadet expedition funding
• Volunteer reserve support
• Military charity grants
• Youth outdoor education

Headquarters

HQ city

Lichfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The Ulysses Trust raises funds through individual donations, monthly giving (Egg Banjo Fund), corporate donations, and event fundraising. Major donors include Forces Support (£60,000), Cambridge Management Consulting (£10,000), BAE Systems (New Horizons campaign exceeding £2 million), and Mind Foundry (Walking the World challenge). The charity also receives donations through the Odyssey Circle donor society.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Ulysses Trust is a UK registered charity that provides financial grants to members of the UK's Volunteer Reserve, University Officer Training Corps (UOTC), and Cadet Forces (ACF, CCF, Sea Cadets, RAF Air Cadets) to undertake challenging expeditions and adventurous training activities. Grants typically cover up to 33% of expedition costs, with units required to source partnership funding. The Trust also administers targeted funding programmes (Egg Banjo Fund monthly giving, Mark Pendleton Bursary), annual Impact Reports, and the Royal Patron Expedition Awards.

Product overview

The Ulysses Trust is a charity (Reg'd Charity No. 1170600) that serves as the only organization dedicated to supporting the development of UK Volunteer Reserve and Cadet Forces through challenge and adventure. The Trust operates primarily as a grant-giving organization, providing financial support for expeditions and adventurous training activities. Its core offerings include expedition grants, specialized bursaries (such as the Mark Pendleton Bursary for Royal Navy Cadets), and the Egg Banjo Fund monthly giving program. The Trust also administers the Royal Ptron Expedition Awards recognizing excellence in expedition planning and execution, publishes annual Impact Reports documenting outcomes, and maintains the Odyssey Circle supporter society. Expeditions supported span mountain trekking, sailing, Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions, and various adventurous training activities both in the UK and overseas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Expedition Grants Financial grants supporting members of UK Volunteer Reserve, UOTC, and Cadet Forces to undertake challenging expeditions and adventurous training activities, typically covering up to 33% of expedition costs. Targeted at unit commanding teams within military and cadet organisations.
• The Egg Banjo Fund Monthly giving campaign where supporters contribute the cost of one egg banjo (fried egg sandwich) per month (£6.66/month for 12 months = £100 with Gift Aid) to provide adventure training opportunities for cadets.
• The Mark Pendleton Bursary Bursary established in memory of Lt Mark Pendleton RNR, funding Royal Navy Cadets to participate in Tall Ships sailing and broader adventurous training opportunities.
• Royal Patron Expedition Awards Prestigious awards highlighting the very best in leadership, challenge, courage and planning from expeditions supported by The Ulysses Trust, presented annually by senior dignitaries.
• Impact Reports Annual impact reports documenting expedition outcomes, participant numbers, grants disbursed, and social value data from comprehensive outcome measurement surveys.
• Odyssey Circle Society of like-minded supporters who support Reserve and Cadet Forces through expeditions and life-changing opportunities, with events hosted at prestigious venues such as Google HQ, Grosvenor Estates, and Fishmongers' Hall.
• Expedition Reports Detailed documentation and video coverage of expeditions undertaken by cadets and reservists, showcasing expedition experiences and outcomes through the website blog and YouTube channel.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of survey respondents rated the expedition as meeting or exceeding expectations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Black Mountain AdventuresminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Black Mountain Adventures provided professional instructors for the AT Wales Easter 2026 expedition in the Brecon Beacons, delivering mountain walking, navigation training, gorge scrambling, and caving activities for Suffolk ACF cadets.
• City Veterans CICcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCity Veterans CIC selected The Ulysses Trust as its charity partner for 2025-2026. The partnership includes joint fundraising events, including the City Veterans Dinner 2026 held at Lancaster House, which brought together military, business, and public sector supporters. The partnership aims to strengthen opportunities for young people across the UK's Reserve and Cadet Forces.
• Royal Geographical Society (RGS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ulysses Trust partners with the RGS on the Explore bursaries programme, supporting 13 young people to attend the RGS Explore weekend. The RGS also awarded The Ulysses Trust the Geographical Award 2024. The Trust presents cadet expeditions at RGS EXPLORE conferences.
• Tall Ships Youth TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Tall Ships Youth Trust provides sailing vessels (Challenger 1, Challenger 2) for cadet expeditions. The Ulysses Trust provides funding support for cadets to participate in Tall Ships sailing expeditions, including RYA Competent Crew training. Supported expeditions include Jellalabad Splash and Tall Ships 2026.
• Morgen Thomas LtdminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMorgen Thomas Ltd has been engaged by The Ulysses Trust's trustees to carry out fundraising activities. The firm was selected following a fundraising plans announcement at HMS President on 7 July 2023.
• Wessex RFCAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWessex RFCA (Reserve Forces' and Cadet Associations) co-funded the Jellalabad Splash sailing expedition alongside Ulysses Trust and ACCT UK, supporting Army Cadets from the Southwest region.
• ACCT UKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerACCT UK (Adventurous Training Association) co-funded the Jellalabad Splash sailing expedition, enabling Army Cadets to achieve RYA Competent Crew qualifications and Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award residential sections.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Help for Heroes: Major UK Armed Forces charity supporting wounded veterans and their families through grants and recovery services. Comparable as a UK military grantmaking charity with significant corporate fundraising, though its focus is recovery rather than adventurous training expeditions.
• Forces in Mind Trust: UK charity funding research and programs supporting the transition of Armed Forces personnel to civilian life. Comparable as a grantmaking military-focused charity with strong impact measurement discipline similar to the Trust's outcome surveys.
• RAF Benevolent Fund: Principal UK charity supporting serving and former RAF personnel and their families through grants, including support for RAF Air Cadets. Comparable as a UK Armed Forces grantmaking organization whose beneficiary base overlaps with Ulysses Trust's RAFAC segments.
• ABF The Soldiers' Charity: Large UK military charity providing welfare support to soldiers, veterans, and their families. Comparable as a UK Armed Forces grantmaking body serving a similar beneficiary community, though much broader in scope than The Ulysses Trust's expedition-focused niche.
• Royal British Legion: The UK's largest Armed Forces charity, providing welfare grants, employment support, and commemorative programs. Comparable as a UK military grantmaking charity with national profile, though operating at far greater scale and breadth than the Trust.
• Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity: Official Royal Navy charity delivering grants and welfare support across the Naval Service family. Comparable as a service-specific UK military grantmaking body that also funds adventurous training and cadet activities.

Others

• City Veterans CIC: UK Community Interest Company that selected The Ulysses Trust as its 2025-2026 charity partner. Comparable as an adjacent military-community organization facilitating corporate engagement and joint fundraising with military charities.

Direct peers

• Forces Support: UK charity supporting bereaved Armed Forces families, and a significant recent donor (£60,000) to The Ulysses Trust. Comparable as a UK military family-focused charity that also funds adventurous training through partnership grants.
• Walking With The Wounded: UK military charity using expeditions and outdoor challenges to support wounded veterans. Directly comparable mission model — using adventure/expedition grantmaking as the primary mechanism to deliver outcomes for military beneficiaries.

Regional players

• Soldiers' Charity (Gurkha Welfare Trust): UK-based charity providing welfare support to Gurkha veterans and their families in the UK and Nepal. Comparable as a niche UK military charity grantmaking body, though its beneficiary focus is narrower than the Trust's broad cadet/reservist scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UlyssesTrust
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFSvPGkEHD2JCx_F0h3ennA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ulysses-trust

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Ulysses Trust