Paddle, Drum, Cheer – Building Community One Stroke at a Time

The SWR Dragon Boat Racing Team has been making waves for several years now, and we're thrilled to be taking our dragon boat racing to a new venue this year – the beautiful Chipstead Lakes! Our journey with dragon boat racing began from a simple belief: that sport has the unique power to bring people together, break down barriers, and create lasting friendships.

Over the years, your incredible generosity and support have enabled us to not only participate in these events but to make them truly inclusive experiences for our entire community. Since our founding in 2017, SWR has grown from a small group of determined residents into a thriving community of over 118 active volunteers supporting 52 refugee families from Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine across 29 towns and villages in the Sevenoaks district.

In dragon boat racing, success depends entirely on synchronisation, trust, and collective effort - values that mirror our approach to refugee support. Every paddle stroke must be in harmony, just as every volunteer, donor, and community member plays a crucial role in helping newcomers find their place in our district.

Why This Fundraising Matters

The funds raised through our dragon boat participation will directly support our current programmes and help us expand our welcoming arms even further. With your support, we can continue providing:

English language classes (we delivered 8,520 hours last year alone)

Essential household items for newly arrived families

Social integration activities including coffee mornings, children's parties, and community outings

Employment support – we currently have 37 refugees in employment

Housing assistance and connections with local landlords and hosts

Educational support and access to public services

Bringing Everyone to the Water

What makes this year's participation extra special is that for the first time, we're bringing refugee families to join us at the festival as active participants. We need your help to cover their participation costs, but more than that, we need your support to continue making our society truly inclusive. Sport transcends language barriers, and we know that shared activities like this create genuine friendships and understanding that benefit our entire community.

This Refugee Week 2025, we witnessed the incredible power of community coming together when over 300 people participated in our "Desperate Journeys" experience, and 16 refugees joined our World Refugee Day tea party. The dragon boat festival represents another opportunity to celebrate the diversity and strength of our community.

Your Support Makes Waves

Every donation helps us continue Sevenoaks' proud tradition as the UK's first officially recognised Town of Sanctuary. Since 2017, we've raised over £270,000 for refugee support, but our work is far from finished. With more families hoping to find sanctuary and existing families still building their independence, your support ensures we can continue providing the wraparound care that helps people not just survive, but truly thrive.

Donate now

Help us paddle towards a more inclusive future! Whether you contribute £5 or £50, every donation makes a difference. Join the SWR Oar-some Crew in making a splash for sanctuary, inclusion, and community spirit!