Community & Fundraising

At Staines Boat Club we value our relationship with our community and we work hard to make it a good one. We are actively looking to make rowing more accessible to the community.

Working with local schools

We have set up a Schools Rowing Partnership with local state schools including junior schools. This work ranges from taster sessions in the schools through to Learn to Row courses held on the river during the school day. We have delivered sessions to the following local schools: Salesian School, Matthew Arnold School, Thomas Knyvett College, Bishop Wand School, Magna Carta School and Ashford Park Primary School.

If you would like more information about a similar scheme please contact Dudley Fletcher at headcoach@stainesboatclub.co.uk

Established and developing partnerships

We actively seek to share our club with other sports and community clubs.

We currently host British Airways at our boat house. For 10 years Sir Williams Perkins School used the SBC site to grow their rowing club. They have recently moved into their own boathouse and are now the largest rowing school for girls.

Additionally Wraysbury Dragon Boaters and a local Ju Jitsu group use our facilities.

If you are a sports club, a rowing school or community club interested in moving location then please do contact us through secretary@stainesboatclub.co.uk

Taster sessions for local community groups

We offer taster sessions to groups, for example, Scouts, Guides, Charitable organisations. These sessions can be tailored for your group and can be focussed on fun, learning and development, confidence building etc. We will work with you to develop the best programme for your group. Contact learn2row@stainesboatclub.co.uk

Community links

As well as local schools that we work with, we also work with local community groups including Spelthorne Sports Council, Spelthorne and Runnymede Borough Councils, Active Surrey and the Explore Rowing project of British Rowing. We also do “one off sessions” for local community groups such as Scouts, etc..

Over 50’s

In 2015 we hosted an over 50s specific learn to row course to get people active in later life. Due to popular demand we are working on another course for the autumn. For more information please contact learn2row@stainesboatclub.co.uk

Getting people moving

We have had great success with attracting non-active people into the sport of rowing At each of our adult learn to row course intake we have several individuals who do little or no exercise. Each of our coaches adapt the sessions based on peoples' level of fitness with the aim of improving fitness as well as technique over the course. We also offer Leisure Rowing which enables people to gradually improve their fitness in a supportive environment, without the pressure of our fully competitive senior squads.

Volunteering

Being an active and friendly club we are always looking for volunteers to join our family. If you would like to coach rowing, fitness, help with catering or even do the gardening please do contact us. We would love to meet you and show you around! Contact secretary@stainesboatclub.co.uk

New Boat House Project

For the club to continue to develop and thrive, we are building a
new modern boathouse. The pictures to the right show the significant
progress that has been made on the new building.

Our current facilities do not provide enough storage for our equipment,
space for club-wide events or appropriate facilities for disabled and
mobility-impaired people. Rowing requires land-based training year
round and we don’t have space to offer these sessions in a safe and
inviting way. We are keen to offer use of our boathouse to local
community groups, some of which have been identified in our
Community Engagement Plan, however this is not currently possible
due to the inadequate facilities. The project will provide
fit-for-purpose dedicated facilities, meeting demand, significantly
increasing participation in the sport, inspiring those who row, opening
up the club to new users and providing space for social and community
activities. All this will be housed within an iconic new-build clubhouse,
prominently located on the banks of the Thames.

Crucially, the new boathouse is designed to be ‘flood-resilient’, ensuring
minimum disruption should the river overflow.

The existing clubhouse will be demolished and in its place an exciting
new clubhouse is under construction. The new facilities will include:

Large boat storage area on the ground floor
Specific area for storage of launch boats and workshop area
Male and female changing room and toilet facilities (including
disabled facilities)
Weights and training area
First-floor club area
Mezzanine floor for storage and rowing machines
Bar area and kitchen

Fundraising Success

Since starting this project we have raised approximately £1.2 million
through a variety of generous sources.

We are short of about £100,000 to completely finish the project but the
structure of the building is complete and is already being used for boat
storage and there is a working disabled shower and toilet facility.

Work on the upstairs floor and walls will begin shortly.

Help us raise the last £100,000

The work that we are currently unable to complete is the upstairs balcony,
finished car park, a renewed landing stage and landscaping. Everything
else has been funded.

We are looking for sponsors and supporters to enable our vision to
become a reality.

If you like to give a donation follow the link to our JustGiving site below.
Or email sbcmembership@hotmail.co.uk Thanks!

200 Club

The 200 club is a way for the club to raise money and also for the participants to win a prize. Each month a number is drawn and the 'owner' of that number recieves a cash prize. There is also a larger annual draw.

It costs £5 per month for a number, of this money raised:

50% goes towards the maintenance of the club and its grounds

33% prize fund for the monthly draw

17% prize fund for the annual draw

If you'd like to join please email 200club@stainesboatclub.co.uk