British Rowing and United Learning have designed this ambitious initiative with the aim of promoting the physical, social, and mental benefits of rowing while continuing the legacy of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, inspiring young people to engage in sports and fitness.
The project builds on the success of previous collaborations with All Aboard Youth Rowing in Greater Manchester and East Anglia Youth Rowing in Cambridgeshire, where students in these regions have already experienced the advantages of the sport. Now, the goal is to expand indoor rowing opportunities to schools across the country, from Lancashire to Hampshire, and to establish regular virtual and live rowing events over the next three years.
United Learning’s Head of Sport Shaun Dowling said, “We are very excited to launch this project with British Rowing, as part of our ongoing work to encourage active and healthy lifestyles in our schools across the country. By offering indoor rowing programmes, we hope to make rowing accessible to those who may not otherwise have the chance to try the sport and give students more opportunities to experience, enjoy and compete against their peers in the sport.
“Not only do initiatives like these encourage all young people – regardless of age, gender or background – to grow their skills and their character, but they also deliver positive impacts on their physical and mental wellbeing. Equally encouraging has been seeing the uptake in staff getting training to lead school clubs, and the potential for developing this further.”
The project will focus on schools located near British Rowing Performance Development Academies, where clubs and resources can support both curricular and extracurricular rowing activities. However, for schools further away from rowing clubs, British Rowing is working with United Learning to develop a State School Accreditation Model. This will enable schools to offer indoor rowing programs even if they are not geographically close to a traditional rowing club, opening doors for thousands of students to experience the sport.
As part of the project, British Rowing’s Master Trainers have been attending United Learning’s PE conferences to train teachers and help them bring rowing to their students. Schools will also have the chance to compete in Trust-wide virtual competitions, fostering a sense of community and healthy competition among students while building on the spirit of the Paris 2024 Games.
Dan Hetherington, British Rowing Community Development Manager – Youth, said, “We are thrilled to partner with United Learning on this innovative project. Rowing is not just about physical fitness; it’s about building confidence, resilience, and teamwork. By expanding access to indoor rowing, we are supporting United Learning’s mission to bring out ‘the best in everyone’ — pupils, staff, and the wider community. We believe that this project is a fantastic opportunity to help inspire a lifelong passion for sport, wellbeing, and health and we are excited to see it embraced by the United Learning schools we are working with — with the hope of reaching even more in the future.”
British Rowing is keen to collaborate with other schools and multi-academy trusts interested in bringing indoor rowing to their students. Schools or trusts looking to learn more about the program or join the initiative are encouraged to contact British Rowing Youth Community Manager Dan Hetherington by emailing indoor@britishrowing.org.