Volunteers’ Week Spotlight: At the Heart of Rowing Clubs
Volunteers are at the heart of each and every one of our rowing clubs. Our final volunteers’ week spotlight looks at some of the many roles they cover.
From organising the Club regatta through to ensuring everything is running safely, the number of volunteers needed to run a club isn’t insignificant. It can sometimes seem a thankless task, but there are certainly many positives to volunteering, and below we find out a bit more volunteers from two of our clubs.
Graham Whistance is Chairman of Trafford Rowing Club based on the Bridgewater Canal in south Manchester. In 2017, he volunteered to start writing a club newsletter and manage the website. This quickly grew into becoming Deputy Chairman and then Chairman.
Helen Gilbody is a student at the University of Birmingham and through their links with Birmingham Rowing Club became involved with the Birmingham Regatta, finding herself as Chair of the Organising Committee.
Can you tell us a little about the volunteering you do currently?
Helen: “I have just finished my time with Birmingham Rowing Club as Chair of the Regatta Committee. We have been working hard on re-establishing the Birmingham regatta after COVID, weather and bird flu meant that there was a four-year hiatus where the regatta did not run in its full form. My job was to work with the committee to ensure that we put on a safe and enjoyable event to get Birmingham back on the map. It has certainly been very eye opening to see just how much time and effort goes into making a rowing event work!”
Graham receiving his Volunteer of the Year Award
Graham: “My role is to make sure the club is run well with a clear articulated plan for our members. I think Trafford does this well, we have great committee and excellent team of coaches who make life easier but there is definitely a lot of juggling going on behind the scenes and I get involved in all sorts, planning our learn to row courses, our head race (best food on the circuit), dealing with neighbours (we boat from a shared building with limited parking which is always a challenge), fundraising, leading a planning application to the local council to expand the club, unhappy parents, happy parents….it is definitely varied!”
What was it that encouraged you to start volunteering in rowing, and when was that?
Helen: “I remember being approached by the captain of BRC about this role in 2021 and being a bit shocked, I was 19 and it felt like a lot of responsibility. But I was excited to be asked and I definitely had a lot of ideas as to how I would like a regatta to be run. I really appreciate Mindy the captain for taking a chance on me and his support, along with that of all of the committee which has been the reason why I have been in the role for so long.”
Graham: My eldest son joined the club in 2014 after trying lots of sports and rowing seemed to stick. I must admit I was not the most involved in the club in the early days, even sending him to compete at our own head race that first year whilst I did something else for the day – something I now try and convince our new parents not to do! As he started to row more seriously my weekends started to be taken up taking him around the country and I began to see the vast amount of work involved by a small set of volunteers. Seeing how much the sport was helping him (and subsequently my other two children) grow as individuals and the importance of a friend group away from school I decided to start giving a bit back.”
What do you enjoy about your volunteering?
Helen receiving her Young Volunteer of the Year Award
Helen: “We have had a lot of bumps in the road in getting the regatta back up and running, whether that be the weather, or thecouncil closing the reservoir for bird flu, so when the regatta finally ran in its full form for the first time last year I was very proud. I enjoy seeing people come to Birmingham and seeing the club we have here as it is such a unique place, just 10 minutes from the city centre. I really like knowing that I contributed something not just to the club, but to all the competitors.
Graham: “Lots of things! Seeing our juniors growing in confidence both in the sport and themselves. The look on people’s faces when they win their first race. I always take a moment at our annual dinner to just look around the room seeing people enjoying themselves and loving the sport that I love. Knowing that you have had a small part in that is honestly the best feeling.”
What would you say to others thinking about getting involved in volunteering in rowing?
Helen: “Anyone and everyone has something to contribute, if you have ideas about how to make your club better for everyone, speak up and get involved!”
Graham: “Do it! There isn’t a rowing club in the country who wouldn’t answer the question ‘is there anything I can do to help?’ With anything other than a rapid yes followed by 15 things that you could do!. There are always more jobs to do then there is time and people to do them.”
A final thought from Helen:
“I am sad to leave BRC as I am graduating from the university and moving away. I know that wherever I end up, rowing will provide me with the best kind of community. So I look forward to finding a way to give back to my new club in whatever way I can.”
I know that wherever I end up, rowing will provide me with the best kind of community
Volunteers’ Week 2025 draws to a close today, but there are always opportunities to get involved in volunteering at your Club, or at competitions. Register your interest below!
