Get Going Get Rowing

Area: In 2024 Love Rowing funded our first ever project funded in Northern Ireland with the Queens Elizabeth University Belfast and Rowing Ireland.

About: Get Going Get Rowing aims to inspire young people to try rowing who would not normally try the sport. The programme provides positive, inclusive, accessible and fun indoor rowing in schools and special schools with opportunities to link with rowing clubs.

Impact: The project was hugely successful in reaching young people who would face barriers to participation. 

  • 800 young people took part
  • 75% from low income backgrounds
  • 38% from ethnically diverse backgrounds
  • 38% with a special education need or disability

The programme includes individual and team relay challenges so participants have to plan, decide, stick at it even when it’s tough and lead by example. The programme also coaches teenagers to coach younger participants in the sport developing leadership skills.

Even after a short period of indoor rowing, participants expressed mental health benefits. One of the young girls described the indoor rowing room as her ‘happy place’. Another participant stated that rowing let’s her get her rage out on the machine as she doesn’t want to let the machine beat her! 

Rowing Ireland accessed additional local funding to support these young people to access rowing on the water.

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