Hundreds of disadvantaged Manchester schoolchildren see fewer exclusions with new rowing scheme

Rowing is being used as a means of intervention for hundreds of disadvantaged pupils at risk of underachieving in Manchester.

The traditionally privileged sport is often inaccessible to many but the charity arm of The Boat Race has helped Warrington Youth Rowing to launch an ambitious programme to extend the benefits of the sport to those lacking motivation and structure at school.

Warrington Youth Rowing works with partner schools across Liverpool and Norwich and is now expanding to work across Greater Manchester. Funding has helped the group run 36 on-water sessions each week across four hubs with participants from thirty schools across the region.

The initiative targets children at risk of underachieving academically and socially, using rowing as an early intervention tool. Participants have seen improved school attendance, fewer exclusions and increased confidence as a result of the scheme.

Over 300 students from disadvantaged backgrounds now take part in weekly rowing sessions during school hours at rowing clubs near where they live, which is also good news for clubs that would often lay dormant during the middle of the day.

Phil Lloyd, Executive Principal at participating school North Liverpool Academy said: “It’s been fantastic to see the teamwork develop alongside their enthusiasm for being out on the water. Our aim as a school is to offer young people a world-class education regardless of background. The Warrington Youth Rowing programme has given us another step towards that goal.“

The programme has been boosted by funding from The Boat Race Fund. This money comes from the charitable outreach programme of the famous Oxford and Cambridge University Boat Race which takes place each year in London.

Richard Sinnott, CEO of Warrington Youth Rowing said: “The help given to us by The Boat Race fund is very important and has enabled us to expand our schools programme. This in turn has enabled more youngsters to get on the water, experience the sport of rowing, learning many vital life skills along the way.”