British Rowing expand indoor rowing partnerships with Dixons Academies Trust

British Rowing and Dixons Academies Trust deliver a new indoor rowing partnership, breaking down barriers to participation

British Rowing is excited to announce a new partnership with Dixons Academies Trust to deliver a youth indoor rowing programme across its schools in the North West. This initiative marks the first phase of a broader plan to provide accessible, inclusive rowing opportunities for young people – starting with indoor rowing and with ambitions to expand into Yorkshire in the near future.

The programme officially launched last week with a live virtual indoor rowing event, bringing together four schools and a total of 28 teams, made up of students from Years 7 to 10. Each team of four took part in an 8-minute relay race, showcasing enthusiasm, determination, and a fantastic spirit of competition while cheering on their peers.

The connection with Dixons Academies Trust was developed through the ongoing work of All About Youth Rowing, a community-focused initiative committed to giving young people access to on-the-water rowing experiences across the North West. Their engagement with schools helped lay the foundation for this exciting new indoor programme.

“We’re thrilled to see students from Dixons schools racing and enjoying rowing so early in the project,” said Dan Hetherington from British Rowing. “This is about opening doors, giving all young people the chance to try rowing as part of a healthy and active lifestyle, whether that’s through indoor competition and activity or future water-based opportunities.”

Rachael Fidler, School and College Trust Leader who introduced and leads the rowing programme in Dixons Academies trust said “this event has seen the largest turnout for extra curricular clubs so far this academic year. It is a fantastic opportunity for our students to get involved in a sport that builds their resilience and fitness at the same time.”

Looking ahead, British Rowing and Dixons Academies Trust aim to embed indoor rowing as a regular and active part of school life, providing opportunities for physical activity, inter-school competition, and progression routes for students who wish to develop further in the sport.

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to youth development, inclusive participation, and the belief that rowing can be a powerful tool for personal growth, teamwork, and lifelong wellbeing.