Creating Opportunities Through Active Row Southwark

We began building Active Row Southwark back in February with a simple goal: create more opportunities for young people in Southwark to access rowing, paddle sports and the life skills that come with them.

Since then, it has been exciting to see the programme take shape.

Over the past few months, we have built relationships with eight schools across the borough, including SEND schools and a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), introducing young people to rowing through indoor sessions, competitions and on-water activities. Schools have attended NJIRC, our National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships, received rowing machines and taken part in coaching sessions designed to build mental skills as well as physical competency.

With the arrival of spring the programme moved onto the water at Surrey Quays. Young people have been climbing aboard paddleboards, rowing boats and our skerry, experiencing activities that many had never previously had access to. Alongside learning new skills on the water, participants have been developing key life skills through London Youth Rowing's Skills Builder approach, with the ability to aim high and stay positive, work as a team, problem solve, develop creativity, and experience being a leader worked into sessions.

A major milestone was the Active Row Southwark launch days, which brought schools together at Surrey Quays to experience the programme first-hand. Across two days 32 young people from Cavendish, Arco Academy, and City Academy Southwark competed in a range of different tasks and water sports to earn points for their schools. It was great to see these schools interact with each other, particularly Arco and Cavendish, two alternative provisions, with the teachers linking up afterwards and speaking about working with each other more.

One of the most exciting development has been the growth of the Surrey Quays Open Club. Created to provide a developmental pathway beyond school sessions, the Open Club gives young people the chance to continue their involvement in rowing and paddle sports on a regular basis for free.

The first session welcomed just one participant.

By session two the Open Club had 16 members, and after a few weeks is now operating at capacity with a waiting list continuing to grow. The increase reflects not only the demand for accessible water sports opportunities, but also the sense of community that is beginning to form around the programme.

While Active Row Southwark does not officially launch until September, the foundations are already firmly in place. Schools are engaged, young people are returning week after week, and new connections are being formed across the borough.

It has been a hugely positive start, and we are excited to see what the next chapter of Active Row Southwark will bring.