Love Rowing awards grants for inclusive rowing projects

November 18, 2021

Love Rowing, British Rowing’s Charitable Foundation, award grants to 10 rowing clubs and organisations across the UK to fund inclusive projects

Love Rowing, British Rowing’s Charitable Foundation, award grants to 10 rowing clubs and organisations across the UK to fund inclusive projects, supporting them in their aims to bring in new communities to the sport of rowing.

The grants from Love Rowing will help seed fund inclusive projects across the country to increase access to the sport, whether in state schools, adaptive rowing programmes or within the community.

“It was wonderful to see so many entries to our first open grant process. We had to make some tough decisions as there were many clubs with fantastic initiatives who applied””commented Cath Bishop, Chair of Love Rowing. “Congratulations to those clubs who were successful this time. We are excited to follow the progress of the initiatives and look forward to seeing the impact on the individuals and the community.”

The successful clubs that have been offered grants are:

Tyne United Rowing Club, Blaydon-on-Tyne – Schools Programme – Tyne United are delivering rowing programmes to pupils at four local state schools, offering a combination of on and off-water activites.
Coalporters ARC, Southampton – Adaptive Programme – Coalporters will use their grant to offer adaptive sculling opportunities and remove some of the existing barriers to participation.
The Lea, Hackney, London – Community Programme – The Lea, based in Hackney, will use the grant to support their IBelong project increasing outreach to ethnic minority groups in the local community.
Carrick Rowing Club, Cornwall – Schools Programme – The grant will support Carrick’s state school holiday programme accessible for children from low-income households.
East Anglia Youth Rowing, Cambridge – Schools Programme – Led by City of Cambridge Rowing Club, EA Youth Rowing will be working with clubs and state schools across East Anglia to get more students on the water. A completely new initiative with big ambitions, the first of four schools will start the programme in January as part of their PE curriculum.
Marlow Rowing Club, Bisham, Marlow – Adaptive Programme – Well known for it’s outstanding work in adaptive rowing, the grant will help improve what Marlow can offer to get PR1 rowers onto the water.
City of Swansea Rowing Club, Swansea – Adaptive Programme – The grant will support the club’s aim to provide more adaptive rowing opportunities.
Trentham Rowing Club, Trentham, Stoke on Trent – Schools Programme – The grant will support coaching for Trentham’s state school project which has a strong focus on general wellbeing and the importance of exercise for children from low income households.
Fulham Reach Boat Club, Hammersmith, London – Schools Programme – Fulham Reach will use the funds for their established state school programme bringing children from local state schools on the water as a part of their PE lesson.
Here for Sport, Coventry – Schools Programme -A social enterprise looking to break down barriers to participation and make sport more inclusive and accessible. The grant will support coaching for indoor rowing sessions at a state school in Coventry.

Love Rowing are also proud to support projects from the clubs and schools that took part in The Big Row fundraiser in June this year. The clubs and schools who raised over £500 during The Big Row received 50% of these funds back to the club for their own inclusive initiatives.

These clubs are:

Molesey Rowing Club – Molesey have used the funds towards taster sessions and learn to row courses for underrepresented groups including state school children and ethnically diverse community groups.
Wychwood School – Wychwood are embedding rowing into the school curriculum in partnership with Hinksey Sculling School. They are focussed on offering a participation pathway so that all pupils have access to the sport regardless of ability.
Radley College Boat Club – Funds raised are being used for a state school programme, specifically to fund kit for the children during the course.
Grosvenor Chester Rowing Club – The funds are being used by the club to build on their partnership with St Vincents Blind School, offering rowing sessions to children at the school.
Maidenhead Rowing Club – The funds covered the cost of a fixed seat for a rowing machine. This means Maidenhead can now offer indoor rowing experiences to wheel chair users and fixed seat rowers.
Bristol Rowing Club – The funds are being used for Bristol’s state school initiative for children from low income households.
St Paul’s Boat Club – St Paul’s put their funds towards Fulham Reach Boat Club’s state school programme and are looking to work together with Fulham Reach in future.