GrantRadar

The Rowing Foundation

Equipment Grants and Refurbishment Grants

The Rowing Foundation, a registered charity supported by Henley Royal Regatta Charitable Trust, gives match-funding grants to UK rowing clubs and other on-water rowing-type organisations (such as gig clubs and Scout groups) to buy boats, blades and similar equipment, or to have boats refurbished, for junior squads, students in full-time education and adaptive rowers of any age. Grants cover 50% of the cost up to £4,000 including VAT, and £4,000 is also the total any club can receive across both schemes in any five-year period. Equipment grants are decided three times a year; refurbishment grants (a 'hull and tops' service) are awarded 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

  • Established clubs located in the United Kingdom (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) with an active junior/student programme, or with existing facilities suitable for disabled rowers
  • Most grants go to UK rowing clubs, but any club or organisation involved in on-water rowing-type activities may be supported (recent awards include gig clubs, Scout groups, school boat clubs and university boat clubs)
  • The application form asks whether the club is affiliated to British Rowing (or other affiliation), has safeguarding procedures that comply with current legislation, has membership open to all, and has its 50% match funding in place
  • Refurbishment grants are only for boats belonging to a UK rowing club and used exclusively by juniors, students in full-time education or adaptive rowers
  • Individuals cannot apply
  • Trustees have absolute discretion

What it funds

  • Equipment Grants: a 50% match towards equipment that gets young or disabled people on the water, namely rowing/sculling boats, sculls, oars, riggers and parts thereof, for junior squads at clubs, university boat clubs, or clubs' adaptive rowing programmes
  • Requests must be for a specific project and purpose (e.g. a second-hand coxed quad so a club can run more Learn to Row courses for J13s); vague requests are highly unlikely to succeed
  • Refurbishment Grants: 50% of the cost of a 'Hull and Tops Service' by a boat repairer of the club's choice, for boats used exclusively by juniors, those in full-time education or adaptive rowers of any age; extra repair work must be approved first
  • The maximum is the smaller of £4,000 (including VAT) or 50% of the cost, and no club, school or organisation can receive more than £4,000 in total across both schemes in any five-year period (as one grant or several smaller ones)
  • Applications must be non-elitist

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
  • More than £4,000 to any one club, school or organisation in any five-year period (across both schemes)
  • Organisations outside the United Kingdom

How to apply

  1. Read the criteria on the Equipment or Refurbishment page; optionally discuss a potential grant with a trustee or via the Contact Us form
  2. Equipment Grants: complete the online application form on the website (club details, membership numbers, amount requested up to £4,000, project purpose and costings, confirmation that match funding is in place and that the criteria are met), attaching a quote or invoice if you have one, before noon on Monday 19 October 2026
  3. Refurbishment Grants: obtain a quote for a hull and tops service from a boat repairer, then complete the online application form with the quote and a handwritten letter of support from a junior, student or adaptive rower; these are accepted at any time
  4. If awarded, have the Terms & Conditions endorsed by two officers of the club (Chair, Captain, Secretary, etc.)
  5. Equipment Grants: send proof of invoice(s) and bank details to the Hon Secretary promptly so the grant can be paid

Equipment grant trustees meet three times a year. Funded equipment or boats must display a Rowing Foundation sticker (supplied by the Foundation, or sent direct to the repairer for refurbishments).

You may be asked for a set of recent club accounts.

Have ready

  • Completed online application form
  • Quote or invoice for the equipment (equipment grants: optional at application, can follow later)
  • Quote from the boat repairer (refurbishment grants)
  • Handwritten A4 letter of support from a junior rower who has been through the J14 category, or a student/adaptive rower (refurbishment grants)

Recent club accounts may be requested. If a grant is awarded, the Terms & Conditions must be endorsed by two club officers, and proof of invoice(s) and bank details provided.

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