Brentford Boat Club is a volunteer-run rowing charity giving young people aged 13 to 18 access to a sport that is often out of reach.

Founded in 2023, the club exists to open the river to teenagers who would not otherwise have the opportunity to row. We believe that access to sport, fresh air and positive challenge can make a lasting difference to young people’s lives.

Why we exist

Rowing offers far more than physical fitness. For teenagers, it provides:

• Strong physical and mental health benefits

• Time outdoors and away from screens

• Teamwork, discipline and resilience

• Individual confidence and personal achievement

• A positive peer group and sense of belonging

Research consistently links regular sport participation with improved wellbeing, behaviour and academic outcomes.

Our mission is to make these benefits available to young people regardless of background or prior experience.

What we do

Brentford Boat Club offers a clear pathway for young people:

Learn

We run free learn-to-row courses and holiday clubs, often in partnership with schools and community organisations. These sessions are where many of our members first discover rowing.

Train

Young people who join the club train regularly with experienced coaches, building fitness, skill and confidence in a supportive environment.

Race

The club competes at local, regional and national level. Despite being a young charity, our squads have already achieved strong results and are ambitious to build on this success.

Not every young person chooses to race, but every member benefits from structured activity, support and encouragement.

Where we are based

The club is has its roots in Brentford. While we work towards a permanent Brentford boathouse, we currently access the river Thames from Dukes Meadows near Barnes Bridge. This allows us to train and compete on the river today while building for the future.

How your donation helps

As a charity, every donation makes a direct difference. Your support helps fund:

• Free learn-to-row courses and holiday clubs

• Coaching and safety provision

• Boats and equipment

• Competition entry and transport

• Access for young people who could not otherwise afford to row

We work hard to ensure cost is not a barrier to participation.

A volunteer-run charity

Brentford Boat Club is run by volunteer Trustees, coaches and supporters. This keeps costs low and ensures funding is focused on impact rather than overheads.

With your help, we can reach more young people, support their development and continue building towards a permanent home in Brentford.

Thank you for supporting Brentford Boat Club. Your donation helps young people learn, train and race, and gain skills and confidence that extend far beyond the river.

What your donation can help provide:

£25 helps cover the cost of safety equipment and training essentials for a young person starting rowing.

£50 supports a place on a learn-to-row course, introducing a teenager to rowing in a safe, supportive environment.

£75 contributes towards coaching and supervision for a holiday club session, reaching multiple young people.

£100 helps fund transport, coaching and entry costs so young people can take part in local and regional competitions.

£250 supports equipment maintenance and shared kit, keeping boats safe and usable for training and racing.

£500 helps deliver a full block of free learn-to-row sessions or holiday club activity for young people who could not otherwise access rowing.

£1,000 makes a significant contribution to coaching, equipment and access programmes, helping the club grow participation and build towards a permanent home in Brentford.