LYR expands school rowing programme to Bristol

A newly launched rowing programme within state schools across Bristol will create opportunities for children who may not have previously had the chance to take part in the sport.

Active Row Bristol will look to engage with young people from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds or those with disabilities, helping them build fitness and life skills through the sport of rowing, both indoor and on water.

Active Row is the primary participation programme of London Youth Rowing (LYR), which is looking to run the campaign in areas across the country.

The launch of Active Row in Bristol has been made possible due to a three-year funding partnership with Henley Royal Regatta Charitable Trust and British Rowing. The partnership has also enabled similar programmes in Leeds, Nottingham and Kent.

Originating in London, Active Row combines both indoor and on-water rowing, with a firm focus on improving equality, inclusivity and diversity.

A study which assessed a four year period of Active Row London found that the programme provides a significant boost to the mental and physical health of participants, whilst generating more than £17 million of social benefits annually.

Richard James, Head of School Oasis Academy Temple Quarter – one of the Bristol schools taking part in the programme – said: “We read the impact report, we saw the work that’s being done in other cities around the country and really felt as though LYR is a charity that aligned with our vision and the opportunities we want to provide our students.

“We have got a waiting list already where students are desperate to get involved. The students that do take part absolutely love it.”

LYR was founded in 2004 and officially launched in 2005 in response to the rowing community becoming an increasingly niche and elitist sport.

Across all of LYR’s programmes in 22/23, the charity engaged with over 9,000 people across all of its programmes including events with our outreach programmes and projects working with 5,500 participants of which 66% are from ethnic minority backgrounds, 50% were female and 10% were SEND participants.