Grants available to clubs to support adaptive rowing
The 2024 British Rowing Club Adaptive Equipment Fund is now open for applications (closing on 28 March)
British Rowing’s Adaptive Equipment Fund, launched in 2023 in partnership with Sport England, offers grants in the range of approximately £500 to £1,000 for any clubs that want to start or build on their existing adaptive rowing activity.
What equipment does the Fund support?
As the name ‘adaptive rowing’ implies, rowing equipment sometimes needs to be adapted to enable an athlete with a disability to row. The Club Adaptive Equipment Fund supports a range of equipment to adapt new or existing boats or indoor rowing machines, but the grants do not cover the full or partial cost of boats or rowing machines themselves.
Here are some examples of equipment the Fund will support:
- Stabilisers (also known as floats or pontoons) – the most common piece of specialist equipment used to help athletes with an impairment get out on the water. These are special floats, which are attached to the ends of the riggers to provide some extra balance to the boat; much like an outrigger on a canoe. Note – stabilisers are usually detachable so they can be added for the adaptive session and removed for mainstream use.
- Supportive fixed seats for boats or indoor rowing machines aid rowers who with impairments that limit their stability or use of the sliding seat action. These seats may be of particular assistance for rowers who are also wheelchair users.
- Finally, rowing can often be made accessible to athletes with minor impairments just by adding a small piece of kit – such as alternative hand grips – to enable them to row effectively on the water or indoors.
You can find out more about types of adaptive rowing equipment here.
Supportive seat in use at Teesside University.
Successful grant applications in 2023, which totaled over £10,000, included:
- Floats – Ross RC, Burton Leander RC, Avon County RC, Somerset Community RC, Tees RC, Mayflower Offshore RC
- Seats for boats or rowing machines – Ross RC, Mayflower Offshore RC, Teesside University RC
- Lifting chair – Pengwern RC
- Other rowing machine accessories (floor mat, gloves and hook aids) – Wolfson Rehab Centre.
How to apply for an Adaptive Equipment Fund grant
If your club has an adaptive rower but lacks the appropriate equipment to support them, or you want to welcome such a rower into your club, please contact us on [email protected]. The Adaptive Working Group will be in contact to advise on the appropriate equipment for your project. The Group will then guide you through the application process.
Applications for the 2024 Club Adaptive Equipment Fund are open now and close on Thursday, 28 March.
Practical support available for clubs to develop adaptive rowing
British Rowing can offer a package of support to clubs who want to get started with adaptive rowing, even if it’s for just one adaptive rower in your area. In addition, funding support is available via the Adaptive Equipment Fund for an equipment starter pack that includes:
- FREE coaching advice and workshops as to how best to support rowers with different needs
- Mentoring advice and support from those across the community who have years of experience in supporting rowers with adaptive needs
- Opportunities for people with an impairment to become adaptive rowing coaches and share their experiences with more people wanting to row indoors or on the water
- Aids or equipment that support coaches with an impairment deliver sessions.
So, if you want to get involved and be part of adaptive rowing’s growth please contact us on [email protected] with some details about what you would like to do and we’ll be in touch to help you get started.
