Weathering the storms: How the Sport England Movement Fund provided a crucial winter training fix for Bedford RC

Fergus Mainland spoke with club President Hugh Maltby about how the fund has helped the club level up its facilities and about some of the exciting work going on in Bedford

Like many clubs, Bedford RC has had to take stock of finances, facilities, and everything in between. Over recent years, in the wake of the global pandemic, the club has been hit hard by storms which have left the River Great Ouse unrowable for large chunks of winter training, most notably during the winter months of the 2023/24 season, as well as last year’s autumn.

With considerable periods of time spent racking up miles and lifting tin indoors, this seemed like the perfect opportunity to rejuvenate the club’s gym and breathe new life into the building that’s nestled alongside Bedford Town Bridge.

“We worked out it was about £11,500 [to upgrade facilities] we needed, and in my role as President, I’ve been looking around for different avenues that we could get funding from, and I came across this Sport England Movement Fund,” explained Hugh Maltby.

“I looked at the criteria for it, and I was able to match what we wanted to do with the criteria for their fund. I then got in contact with them and broadly outlined what we were planning to do and whether that would meet the objectives of their fund, which it did.”

“Having been told that this would hopefully get a favourable review, I completed the paperwork, which wasn’t too onerous! I had it reviewed by colleagues and the committee at the club, and they granted us £4,250. However we were required to crowdfund and match that amount.

“We set up a crowdfunding page, promoted it in the local media to encourage people to support us. We were successful in raising £4,250, which meant we received the additional funding from Sport England, and we topped up the rest with money from the club funds.”

For Bedford RC, this meant new equipment and a gym that properly supported its members with training at all levels. The funding allowed the club to purchase items such as spin bikes, free weights, and a leg extension machine. The club also used some of the money to produce a series of videos, as they are aware that when new people join, they will now have these videos to watch and learn from in relation to strength and conditioning.

The new gym complements the growing squads that train at the Club. Historically, Bedford RC has been known for having a strong Senior squad. However, many of those rowers have transitioned to Masters rowing, and the club continues to flourish. This was clearly demonstrated by their fantastic set of results competing as Bedford Star RC at the World Rowing Masters Regatta earlier this year in Banyoles. The new facilities are also used for menopause fitness classes, as well as an ever-expanding Junior squad, thanks to a recent partnership with Love Rowing, British Rowing’s charitable foundation.

“Love Rowing has been visiting local state schools, supported by members of Bedford School BC who go into schools in the morning to run an indoor rowing club. We are now working to create a pathway for those students who are interested in rowing to continue their journey at Bedford RC. They have been out in our Swift Boats, and then we have a mechanism for them to join our junior squad,” said Hugh.

In recent years, the Junior squad at Bedford RC has produced some exceptional rowers. Ellie Cook of Reading University BC, who just won a gold medal at the U23 World Rowing Championships in Pozan, hails from Bedford RC. Recent Henley Royal Regatta winners Isaac Dean and George Reed have also been part of the Club’s junior squad. The pair stroked Shiplake College and Leander Club to victory in the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup and the Ladies’ Challenge Plate, respectively.

Developing the junior section is a big priority for Hugh and the team. After travelling with the squad to their training camp in Portugal, Hugh has seen firsthand how rowing can prepare someone for life.

“What struck me early on is that we’re passing on more than just rowing technique – we’re sharing life skills. Whether it’s showing up on time, committing to three training sessions a day, or simply supporting one another, these habits shape character. When they return to Bedford, we hope those lessons carry through into their everyday routines – helping them balance academic responsibilities with their sporting ambitions. We’re deeply committed to growing and strengthening our junior section.”

After working with local media, word is starting to spread about the upgrades at Bedford RC. Next up for the club is upgrading the fleet, swapping out their older boats with good-quality second-hand shells or if finances allow, new boats to support its growing squad numbers.

It’s a busy time of the year in Bedford. The club has just hosted its annual Autumn Fours & Small Boats Head with six divisions of racing across the day. However, as the nights draw in and we’re faced with uncertain weather patterns, Bedford RC will be able to continue with training thanks to their new gym facilities, supported by the Sport England Movement Fund.

The Sport England Movement Fund is open to all rowing clubs. It offer up to £15,000 for physical activity projects in the community. The focus is on people who face barriers to activity and projects designed to help them join in.

You can find out more here.