Kind donors ‘adopted’ this project back in March 2024. A year on and it is great to report on this amazing project. Leicester Rowing Club with the support of Love Rowing and the Henley Royal Regatta Charitable Trust have been introducing rowing to the pupils at the Castle Mead Academy. The state school, in an area of significant deprivation and cultural diversity, has affiliated as a school rowing club in its own right. They run 2-3 sessions a week for their young people who want to continue their rowing experiences and it is having a life-changing impact on their young people. The project has made a difference by encouraging students from sedentary backgrounds with little to no experience in exercising on a regular basis to become physically active, benefiting their physical health. 

For some this is about fulfilling their dreams and potential from an opportunity that they would not have been able to experience without this project.

Scarlett, who is partially sighted, has thoroughly enjoyed her time learning rowing and has progressed excellently, she is now at the point of being able to attend races and compete with some of the best rowers in the country. This was demonstrated recently at the Junior Interregional Trials where Scarlett raced for Castle Mead in a double and for Leicester in a single at the trials events. Scarlett has been encouraged by her time rowing at Castle Mead Academy and has even joined Leicester Rowing Club outside of school hours. The progress Scarlett has made in her rowing career has been excellent, and she has formed great social bonds with her fellow students and the coaches at Leicester Rowing Club. Scarlett has also become a volunteer for the Row the Rhythm project at Leicester Rowing Club, supporting other new rowers with a visual impairment.

Another student named Andrei, picked up the sport in year 8, and within a relatively short period of time excelled to the point of being able to race competitively. Andrei is very much involved at Leicester Rowing Club and joins our Castle Mead Academy rowing sessions. His attendance is admirable and he rarely misses a session. This is testament to his love for the sport. Like Scarlett, Andrei too competed in both the Junior Regional Time Trials and the National Indoor Championships.

Teacher Scott McDowell says

“There is a sense of personal achievement for the scholars as they learn and improve at rowing, and eventually compete in competitions.” 

Furthermore, an Octo was donated by Maidenhead Rowing Club to enable the club to ensure as many young people as possible to access the water at one time.