Rowing grant boost for Barn Elms

British Rowing, the sport's national governing body, has provided £12,500 in matched funding under its Explore Rowing project to pay for the boats and a new year Learn to Row course. Explore Rowing is funded by Sport England.

British Rowing is working with local rowing clubs to get more people enjoying the sport. Barn Elms has also been given £4,000 to help towards training new coaches.

The club will be running Learn to Row courses for adults through the new year starting on January 3.  Each course will run for 12 sessions with the opportunity for participants to join the club at end of the course.

Cabinet Member for Environment and Culture, Cllr Jonathan Cook, said.

"Barn Elms Rowing Club is a strong community club but it's always looking to attract more members. The aim is to open up the club and give people in Wandsworth the opportunity to enjoy rowing and the river Thames.

"We're delighted that Barn Elms has received this funding to make it all happen. Our thanks go also to Thames Rowing Club's Charitable Trust for providing £2,000 towards the club's funding"

Sport England invests National Lottery and Exchequer funding in projects that will grow and sustain participation in grassroots sport and create opportunities in Sport for All.

Richard Stock, British Rowing's Explore Rowing Programme Manager, said:

"The opportunity to try a new sport for the first time is often all a person needs to catch the sporting bug. The Explore Rowing project is a great way for everyone to try rowing and get a quality sporting experience that will encourage them to stay involved."

The club are naming two boats to support adaptive rowing as the club runs inclusive adult sessions and supports all of the Wandsworth Schools

Barn Elms Boathouse is run by the council to give all sections of the Wandsworth community the chance to take part in rowing. It offers courses for adults and children and works extensively with schools.

Find out more at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/barnelmsboathouse, call the boathouse on (020) 8788 9472 or email bebh@wandsworth.gov.uk

The picture shows Steven O'Connor and Jill Cobbett from the Barn Elms Boathouse with Cllr Cook and Chris Baillieu from British Rowing.