That is why we are asking for your help! We are looking to raise £100K to make the improvements necessary to take this next step. This amount is no mean feat… but it is an important and transformative amount for PTRC.

Not only will this change the future of the club, but it will change the future for our members too. All three of the proposals below will bring PTRC forward to the club we want to be. We will have more space for training, more space for all the stuff we need to row and more opportunity for growth.

These things will be done as and when we achieve the goals. So when we have enough to surface the yard, we will do it. When we then have enough to add the lift, we will! The sooner we get to the targets, the sooner we will all benefit from these amazing updates.

But we can’t do it without the very people that make our club what it is and will also benefit from this work! So therefore we are coming to you, to give as much as you can to support your club. Between us all, we can achieve this. Thank you so much! #ComeOnTheTown

No matter how little it may seem to you, any donation is amazing and we are so grateful.

If you have any questions about fundraising, our plans or just want to know more just reach out to Bill on treasurer@putneytownrc.co.uk and we are more than happy to chat to you!

About us

Putney Town Rowing Club lives in a big blue building on the edges of the tidal Thames, next to Chiswick Bridge in Mortlake.The name comes from having started life under a pub in Putney.

Our boathouse is a 2.5 story building, with 3 boatbays on the ground floor, a large central hall, changing rooms and a bar on the first floor, and a loft space above the bar which is a training space. We have a small balcony facing the river and to the side is a gated compound which houses the remainder of our fleet.

The club actively welcomes and encourages visitors and members from all parts of the community. However, at the moment we are somewhat hampered by limitations of our clubhouse & surrounding compound. With heavy gravel covering on our yard and no lift access to the first floor, the club house is inaccessible to some part of our community.

So we want to change this. We want to make positive improvements to make our club more accessible and usable space for both our members and our visitors.

What we need the money for:

This is the second fundraising campaign related to our overall building development.

Phase 1 of the build is well underway, with the main steel structure and concrete planks already installed and the side of the boathouse changing shape as you read this.

Our project doesn’t stop there and we urgently need your support to help make Phase 1a happen.

We are planning to:

1. Surface the yard - Making it a more usable space for training as well as enabling our visitors to have full access to the club for events. There will also be access to the new accessible WC which we are building on the ground floor.

During the pandemic, we learnt the importance of outdoor training and having a meeting space outside. This new area will allow the gym to spill out into it and training to take place on a suitable surface. We will have more “usable” club for our members.

The surface will also allow water to percolate through and reduce the pressure on the drainage systems.

2. Provide access to the first floor via a new lift allowing access to the first floor of the boathouse for those that need it.

There are some activities and events that we would love to run as a club that we can't in our current space. One of them being indoor rowing for an adaptive audience. We cannot invite a wide range of people with differing abilities to use our facilities for training, social events and/or hires. With these proposed changes, we would be able to run some smaller activities and events if the situation arises. Its important to note we are not anticipating becoming a fully adaptive club (river access is tricky and there would need to be lots more changes to make this fully accessible) but with these changes we will make it more accessible.

The other major benefit to this is through our ability to hire the space out. Currently we have to turn away events (especially Wakes) as we are not suitable for anyone with access needs. Enabling accessibility to events would also increase our revenue to reinvest in the club.

3. Provide new operating space WCs on the ground level, this includes an accessible WC and secure storage for our engines. Having the balcony overhang around the side of the building provides a new store area to house engines; bar store (removing it from the boathouse and the kitchen); and toilets in the yard area - all of which provide more efficient running of the club in its various activities.

How much will these things cost?

Surfacing the yard - This has been costed at £30,000 including installation.

The lift - This has been costed at £35,000 for the lift and the installation.

Other project costs to support new club and community functions, this includes: modifications to access points; kitchen reconfiguration; improvements to storage facilities and internal space - This is currently costed at approximately £35,000.