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British Rowing aims to work closer with affiliated university rowing clubs to help support more students to be able to go rowing for the first time.
British Rowing has created bespoke support packages which have been specially created to help university clubs access support to improve the delivery and set up in welcoming and onboarding new rowers as well as retaining more people in their clubs throughout the whole academic year ahead.
What support is available for University Clubs?
British Rowing has created a package of support to help improve the student club workforce with access to fully funded BR coach and committee training at the heart of this support. In return helping improve the number of qualified coaches and standard of rowing at your university club, as well as accessing a welcome support grant to aid your initial club member offer. In return, this support will help clubs to:
- Build a future coaching workforce to help rowers progress further in the sport of rowing and improve the clubs offer available to students over other sports.
Be able to deliver a more effective club learn to row programme for ‘new’ to rowing students and help them transition from taster to learn to row and then into future club squads.
Improve accessibility and capacity for university clubs, meaning the club can help a higher number of students access qualified coaches, creating a better participant experience, and a more suitable pathway transition to meet the needs of the individuals rowing.
Set up the club for future sustainability, expand the club's skill set and shape the club to retain more members, making it a lifelong habit whether for fun, fitness, health or competition.
Opportunity to access follow on grants in 2026.
Successful University Clubs will access a package of support worth over £3000:
- Funded places onto a Coach Assistant Workshop to improve the delivery and experience of your university rowing offer for your club members
- Attendance to the official British Rowing University Rowing Club Committee Training
- A £250 welcome grant to support promoting opportunities to row at your University or College
- Use of Just GO - helping clubs access a system to administrate your memberships
- Further Webinar CPD and attendance - including a Coxing from the Coach seat webinar
- Access to the British Rowing Learn to Row online resources platform to download practical coach and participants handbook resources, Learn to Row Guides, Rower development Guide etc.
- British Rowing Community team staff support
What does my Club need to do in return?
In return for the support, university clubs will be asked to:
- Identify and increase the number of qualified coaches at the club
- Set up an improved Learn to Row pathway to support students get started in rowing and help them stay in the sport following British Rowing guidance
- Attend and complete the coach training support to enable longer term club development and retention.
- Signing up students via a the JustGo booking system to a £20 Learn to Row membership to show the impact your club is making.
- Achieving the above will also unlock additional opportunities for University clubs in January 2026 including the opportunity to apply for further Mentoring grants, coach education grants and or retention grant support of up to £2000.
University Clubs can also apply to access the National Learn to Row Scheme with more information and how to sign up
here.
