Rowing clubs to receive grants of nearly £35,000 from Active Thames Fund

Brentford BC, Curlew RC, Fulham Reach BC and Team Keane Sculling School will use their grants for a range of initiatives that support the Active Thames Fund aims of increasing access, diversity, and inclusion through reaching out to under-represented groups

The four grants are amongst 22 projects that the Active Thames Fund is supporting this year with a total of £131,545 and a projected reach of 3,000 people.

Brentford Boat Club will receive a grant of £8,464 to fund six of their young athletes to become fully trained and qualified rowing coaches. The mentorship programme will be delivered over a 10-month period, providing education in all aspects of coaching on the tidal Thames. This project prioritises a high standard of workforce development.

A grant of £5,000 will enable Curlew Rowing Club to expand their access to rowing, particularly in the areas of Newham and Barking and Dagenham. The fund will help target underrepresented communities to break down barriers and make rowing more inclusive. It will subsidise access to taster sessions, enhance their hardship fund, and provide free and discounted spots in their Learn to Row programme, which will in turn double the annual sessions offered.

Fulham Reach Boat Club will receive a large grant of £15,000 to support their State School Rowing Programme which is offered in partnership with secondary schools across the boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea. By partnering with local schools, including Alternative Provision schools such as Westside Academy, they aim to reach those from some of the most underrepresented groups who would not ordinarily have access to the river and a sport like rowing. Funding will be allocated to activity provision as well as upskilling their workforce so that they can create a more inclusive environment and culture for SEND young people.

A grant of £6,440 will be awarded to Team Keane Sculling School to deliver their 10-week Multifaith project. The programme will offer three core activities around workshops and watersports. These will include rowing sessions, canoe sessions, boat-building workshops, and team-building and cultural awareness workshops. Some sessions will be delivered at different places of worship, with activities aimed at promoting cultural exploration. The programme is aimed at reaching children and young people from communities experiencing some of the highest levels of deprivation in London to increase accessibility and inclusivity in watersports.

About Active Thames

Active Thames is dedicated to promoting physical activity along the tidal Thames and its inland waterways, harnessing the natural benefits of being by the water. The programme aims to open the river to a broader range of users, enhancing the physical and mental well-being of local communities. The funding is primarily directed towards initiatives that encourage participation among individuals who may be less likely to engage in physical activities, such as those with disabilities and long-term health conditions.

“The wellbeing benefits – physical and mental – of being by the water are huge,” said Sian Foster, Director of Corporate Affairs at the Port of London Authority. “Through Active Thames, more people are accessing those wellbeing benefits and the opportunity to enjoy the tidal Thames, whether that’s through sailing, paddlesports, rowing, or simply walking along the riverbank.”

The Active Thames partnership is comprised of Active Essex, Active Kent & Medway, London Sport, British Canoeing, British Rowing, RYA, Canal & River Trust, Thames Path National Trail and the Port of London Authority (PLA).