GrantRadar

The Rowing Foundation

The Rowing Foundation Equipment and Refurbishment Grants

The Rowing Foundation, supported by Henley Royal Regatta Charitable Trust, gives UK rowing clubs and other on-water rowing-type organisations 50% match grants towards boats, oars and other on-water equipment, or boat refurbishment ('hull and tops' service), for junior and student rowers and adaptive rowers of any age. Grants are capped at £4,000 (including VAT) per club in any five-year period across both schemes. Equipment grants are decided three times a year (next deadline noon, 19 October 2026); refurbishment grants are considered on a rolling basis.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £4,000
Closes in
1 day left
Effort
Light
short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

  • Clubs, schools and organisations in the United Kingdom involved in on-water rowing-type activities (mostly rowing clubs, also university boat clubs, gig clubs and Scout groups)
  • Equipment applicants must be an established club with an active junior/student programme, or with existing facilities suitable for disabled rowers, and applications must be non-elitist
  • Refurbishment is for boats belonging to a UK rowing club used exclusively for juniors, those in full-time education or adaptive rowers
  • The club must be able to fund its own 50% share
  • Maximum £4,000 per club in any five-year period across both schemes

What it funds

  • Equipment grants: 50% of the cost of specific items that get young people (juniors or those in full-time education) or disabled rowers on the water, namely rowing/sculling boats, sculls, oars, riggers and parts thereof, for a specific project and purpose
  • Refurbishment grants: the smaller of £4,000 or 50% of the cost of a 'hull and tops' service for boats belonging to a UK rowing club and used exclusively for juniors, those in full-time education or adaptive rowers

Recent awards have included gig clubs and Scout groups.

What it will not fund

  • Grants to individuals
  • Canoeing, kayaking, sailing or swimming
  • Coaching fees
  • Subsidised memberships
  • Revenue or any commitment requiring long-term support
  • Capital items such as pontoons, boat racking/storage or other building works
  • Launches or launch engines
  • Minibuses or trailers
  • Loud hailers or radios
  • Lifejackets
  • Ergometers or any other land training equipment
  • Cox boxes or other boat telemetry
  • Retrospective applications for equipment already purchased
  • Vague requests (e.g. 'more equipment for our juniors') are highly unlikely to succeed

How to apply

  1. Check the criteria on the Equipment or Refurbishment page
  2. Complete the online application form for the relevant scheme on the Rowing Foundation website
  3. For equipment grants, submit by the deadline (noon on Monday 19 October 2026 for the next Trustees' meeting); refurbishment applications can be made at any time
  4. If awarded, two club officers (e.g. Chair, Captain, Secretary) endorse the Terms and Conditions of the award
  5. Provide proof of invoice(s) and banking details to the Hon Secretary; display the Rowing Foundation sticker on funded equipment

Trustees and officers are happy to discuss potential applications; contact them via the Contact Us page or enquiries@therowingfoundation.org.uk.

Have ready

  • Completed online application form
  • Confirmation that the application meets the criteria and that the club's 50% of funds is available
  • Quote or invoice for the equipment (equipment grants, optional at application) or for the refurbishment work (refurbishment grants)
  • Refurbishment grants: a handwritten A4 letter of support from a junior rower who has been through the J14 category, or a student/adaptive rower

Equipment applicants may be asked for a set of recent club accounts.

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