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I joined LYR in February 2019, having come from a Performance and Grassroots Paddlesports background. I am passionate about the positive impact being out on the water can have on the development of young lives. I am enjoying being out on the water and coaching Rowing just as much as do I Canoes or Kayaks.
I was really excited about the work LYR does and the opportunities within the charity to change the lives of the young people we work with. I love working with LYR and am really excited for what the future holds.
I grew up travelling abroad with my family, which included flitting between The Netherlands, Nigeria, and Oman. Due to my nomadic upbringing I tended to struggle with my peers and never felt truly accepted, until I began attending the University of Leicester where I found their rowing club and it was here I began to feel part of the fold and truly part of a team. Rowing also developed me into a much more confident person - less afraid of failure, more eager to give it 100 percent no matter the outcome. After finishing my PGCE in English Literature I found I really missed the sport, but still wanted to work with young people - so I started coaching professionally and have never looked back.
As Programme Manager for Active Row Leeds I get to help London Youth Rowing with its first ever expansion! The project is already engaging with multiple young people in Yorkshire and working to help it become as big as it can be is a lot of fun. This is helped by being a part of the brilliant team that is London Youth Rowing, who despite the distance have been so accepting and welcoming from day one.
I began my rowing journey in 2012 with Bangor University Boat Club. During my three years there I learned a lot about the sport and how much I enjoyed developing a club and it's members as I became Vice-Captain and then Club Captain. I joined London Youth Rowing after University in 2015 as a Session Coach and progressed to become a Community Coach working with Schools in West London. I am now the Head Coach for LYR Thames Tradesmen Juniors & The 1863 Club. Being given the opportunity to work with young people through the sport I love is very rewarding. I enjoy working with young people on a daily basis and watching them develop as individuals and as a squad.
An experienced junior coach who has run several school and club programmes, James has taken rowers from club level through to national and international honours.
I began my rowing career with the World Class Start program while at Henley College having previously been a rugby player and started rowing at Leander as a complete novice. During my career I represented Great Britain at Junior, Under 23 and Senior level in both sweep and sculling. In 2012, I was appointed vice captain of Leander Club and helped them to win 4 Henley Royal Regatta medals. While studying at the University of East London I joined the Boat Club and was part of a squad that won several BUCS Gold Medals between 2011-2014. I'm excited to be working at Mossbourne and introducing an awesome, life changing sport to as many students as possible.
I love being able to coach young people from various backgrounds, and give them the same opportunities to enjoy rowing that I did from an early age.
I started my coaching journey in university working as assistant coach for Crystal Palace FC academy as part of my placement for university and that’s where my passion for coaching/mentoring started. Here I learnt a lot about different characteristics, profiles, and behavioural patterns in kids and how to adjust to the different types. I enjoyed my development here as a coach to use my background as a former semi-professional goalkeeper and also being from south London to relate to the kids, because most were locals. I joined LYR as a programs coach in July 2021 and now deliver sessions across various schools in London, this is right up my street with having experience delivering PE sessions in and SEND school prior to coming to LYR. The different organisations running sessions gives me the diversity t be adaptable and spontaneous in my approach which I believe is a key skill to have when coaching. I enjoy working with these young kids developing in them not in just rowing but in other sports as well, building their confidence and also their discipline to approach life not just in my sessions but outside my sessions with a disciplined mentality for them to excel as far as possible in life.
Being involved with LYR as a junior, I found my love of rowing and sport in general. The LYR coaches helped inspire me to be more involved in sport and I went on to complete a Sports Science Degree. During my time at LYR I have worked on Active Row London, supported junior on-water rowing with Globe RC, helped deliver LYR's Life Skills programmes. In 2021, I joined the Mossbourne Rowing Academy coaching team as an Assistant Coach, focusing on increasing engagement with the programme at Mossbourne Victoria Park Academy.
I began my career in sport in 2015 studying Sports Coaching at Leeds Beckett University. During my years studying I was exposed to a diverse range of sporting disciplines and initially I wanted to enter the world of elite sport, following a placement at the English Institute of Sport. However, my goals changed when I spent a summer coaching canoeing as a camp counsellor to children with behavioural issues in Minnesota. Now I want to be able to help transform young people’s lives through the power of sport; Something my role as Alternative Provision Lead at London Youth Rowing allows me to do. I joined LYR in September 2021, enjoying the new challenges and successes every day brings whilst working with young people.
Twelve years ago, my previous career in retail was leaving me unfulfilled, so after a sad family event I decided to do something about it and handed in my notice. I always wanted to work with young people and give something back. So I decided to do a youth work course and some voluntary work at various youth organisations to add alongside my varied life experiences. I also attended multiple sports coaching workshops, and coached at different youth clubs in and around London to gain experience, this led me to LYR, where 6 and a half years later I can honestly say that It was worth the change. Rowing is a great platform to engage with young people through coaching and mentoring. When I see young people achieve their true potential, it brings a smile to my face every time!
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I began my London Youth Rowing journey this year in the beginning of July. Just graduated (2021) from my Sports Science degree and doing various coaching jobs, mainly in football, basketball, and swimming, rowing really and truly was something new to me. Although this is going to be my fifth month at LYR as a Programmes Coach, I've already learnt so much about rowing, how to coach indoor rowing at grassroots level and seeing my coaching techniques improve during the job. Being able to have the opportunity to work with secondary school children, make fun sessions for them, while introducing them to the sport of rowing, was right up my street and I have enjoyed everyday of it.
My name is Shanique Harrison. I’m a full time Programmes coach here at LYR. I have a background quite different from coaching. My previous job was as a Health Care Assistant working with young people, suffering with eating disorders. I had to encourage these kids to exercise and eat healthily. I thought LYR would be a good fit for me because working in a mental health ward with young people I’ve learnt to understand how they may think and also being mindful to know what exercise or engaging in sports may mean to come kids that may be body conscious!
As a young girl I have always loved sports because they were fun and kept me fit and healthy. During my gap year I was presented with the amazing opportunity to join LYR and become a rowing coach. I love working with young people and spreading my love for sports to them hoping to bring them joy and make their days little bit brighter. I can’t wait to watch them grow as individuals in a team they can eventually call family. I know my rowing journey has just started but I can’t wait to see where the waves take me.
I’m Lena, currently the apprentice at London Youth Rowing. I started rowing from the age of 10 with the sea cadets. I started this apprenticeship as I love rowing and have always wanted to work with children.
I’m Lucas. I moved to Leeds mid-pandemic and during that time dove head first into weight training and fitness. I was fortunate enough to spend the past year working as a Strength and Conditioning Coach, which really deepened my understanding of training as a whole. Having never worked around rowing or water in general this role is giving me the opportunity to embark on a new adventure whilst maintaining a close relationship to my passion for fitness.
Aside from training I also love playing music. My main instrument is the drums but I can get by on few other instruments. I love a good discussion, something I can really dissect, and I’ll hold my own in a debate on any topic. I love to nerd out, whether that be about science, history, dinosaurs, Star Wars or superheroes. Just be prepared to have your ear talked off.
Lured to London by the excitement of working in rowing as the capital prepared for the 2012 Olympics was too good an offer to turn down. The scope of what LYR does everyday has kept it just as exciting for me today. It is a hugely rewarding role that gives me the chance to work with an amazing bunch of coaches, partner schools, supporters and funders every day. I love it!
I was motivated to join LYR as I have vivid, positive memories of playing sport at school. At the time it often seemed like hard work, but with the benefit of hindsight I can see how much I learned through sport about life, working in a team and digging deep when needed. I tried my hand at rowing at University and it was clear to me the sport could offer huge benefits to anyone taking part.
When I read about LYR’s work to engage young people in rowing, help them to develop life skills and give them a chance to compete it really struck a chord. It’s a real privilege to work every day to give young people across London those same opportunities. Since I’ve been at LYR, I’ve turned my hand to all sorts of different areas including fundraising, day to day operations, data and impact measurement and working closely with the CEO and Board to support LYR’s governance and strategy. No two days are ever the same and so far it’s been great fun!
Rowing started when a friend at Staffordshire Uni suggest I give rowing a try because it’s fun and great social thing to do. I wasn’t a sportsman of any kind, and it certainly wasn’t part of my identity or future planning. I grew a passion for the sport as it impacted my life so much, from motivation to purpose. I went on enjoying rowing, and it soon became a passion which lead me to 3 Olympic Gold medals. Since then I enjoy exploring the boundaries of Row, through creating rowing events. My passion for the sport is now directed at LYR where I help this great charity to reach out to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to offer this fun and social sport, with the aim to produce motivated and ambitious people able to achieve their potential.
Before working with London Youth Rowing I was a Teacher and most recently a Physical Education Specialist, working in professional development for Teachers. With a background in teaching and high level sport, I have been fortunate to experience and observe the huge benefits of being active. Rowing and swimming, among other sports, were the key to many of the opportunities I experienced as a young person (and as an adult). I still love to participate in any sport I can!
On joining London Youth Rowing I was inspired by the tremendous work being done to engage young people in life changing opportunities. This motivates me day to day. I love working in a team, alongside the coaches to support young people in their development and life skills.
I am now very excited to be managing and leading our flagship programme ‘Active Row’ reaching over 3,000 young people throughout London a year.
After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant at PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Manchester in 2000, I relocated to London to continue my career, working in senior management roles within the Newspaper Industry. Following my maternity leave with our first child, I joined forces with my husband to work in his finance consulting business, where one ofour first clients was a newly formed London Youth Rowing! Ten years on I have returned to LYR, as the part-time Finance Manager. I am proud to work for such a fantastic charity and to work with such an energetic, creative and dedicated team.
As someone who has benefited from the opportunities that LYR offer when I was younger, I now get to give back while doing something that I love and that’s an incredible feeling. Having progressed from the role of Community Coach, I am now based behind-the-scenes at LYR and have varied responsibilities. I am mainly responsible for how we operate day-to-day. It's my job to ensure that we are operating safely and are always looking to improve how we deliver. I am based at the Royal Docks Adventure but also oversee how we work across other sites. As well as the general operations, I work on two local delivery programmes based at the RDA as well as being Child Welfare Officer for LYR. I love the variety that my role includes: from working with coaches to working with partners and young people, from helping others achieve their goals to continuing my own personal development, from the daily sessions to huge annual events we deliver. It’s great to be in a work atmosphere that is innovative and inspiring. I feel fortunate to be in a position that offers young people in London access to some amazing opportunities. It's a pleasure to be able to work outdoors and enable others to enjoy the open air, particularly when the weather is nice. Rowing is such a therapeutic activity and can teach young people a lot about themselves.
After graduating from University with a Bachelor's Degree in Magazine Publishing, I decided to venture into the events industry, and although I always took up very outgoing roles which involved a lot of travelling, the admin side of organizing the events helped me to learn a lot about myself – I have OCD and love planning with a lot of attention to detail! I carried this skill set and continued to take on roles which allowed me to heavily focus on ‘planning’ and ‘managing’ other people. After my long break with settling into motherhood, I came across LYR, who gave me an opportunity to go back into what I enjoy, lots and lots of admin! Although I have 0 experience in rowing, it didn’t matter and it was a chance for me to venture into a new world where people work together to help others to achieve what they thought they couldn’t!
Aleks joined LYR in 2021 as part of the Kickstart scheme. He works as an administrator for our database and website systems.
John leads the Board as Chairman, taking over the role in May 2018.
John studied at Cambridge University where he rowed for CUBC reserve boat in 1982 and 1983. Then during the Boat Race in 1984, his crew famously sank before the start because they hit a barge during the warm up.
He moved to Putney and joined London Rowing Club, rowing there for five years. John became Vice-Captain in 1992 and led the team as Captain in 1993 before getting married.
Jim Downing founded LYR in 2004 and is now President of LYR.
Jim also serves as a Non-Executive Chairman for Native Land Ltd while participating as a Non-Executive Director and adviser to a number of other companies including Andrew Martin Ltd, Cydar Ltd and Essex Group Asia Pacific Ltd. Until July 2016 he was Non-Executive Director and Acting Chairman of Winsway Enterprises.
From 2001-2003, he was Deputy Head of JP Morgan Chase & Co's European Investment Banking group. Prior to the merger of JP Morgan & Co. with Chase Manhattan Bank in 2000, he worked as their Co-Head European Investment Banking.
Jim obtained an MBA from Yale in 1982 and a BSc. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1976.
Krystyna is Managing Director of Board Practice at Norman Broadbent PLC. She joined the company in 2011 and focuses on Board appointments across all sectors. She has a wealth of board search experience in listed and private companies ranging from small, medium and FTSE 250 and FTSE 100 corporates.
As well as being a Trustee of LYR, she is Non-Executive Director of Aberdeen Asian Income Fund Ltd.
She studied physics at Oxford University and gained a law degree in 2003.
Akash is a Corporate Banking Analyst at Citi in the Global Subsidiary Group in London.
He is an avid sailor, sailing regularly off the English and Irish coast.
Akash holds a Bachelors degree in Biomedical Sciences from Kings College London and rowed for his university team. Originally from Mauritius, he enjoys spending time snorkelling and being on the water.
Alan is the Director of the renamed London Stadium in Stratford. He has overseen the re-opening of the venue following its transformation as the former Olympic Stadium built to host London 2012. Since then, the venue has hosted the 2015 Rugby World Cup, premier league football and even motor racing. It will host Usain Bolt's final Athletics World Championship appearance this summer.
Before joining the Stadium, Alan worked for the London Borough of Newham with remit for maximising the community opportunities from London's staging of the London 2012 games.
Prior to that, he worked for Sport England in various roles including distributing community lottery grants and managing the development of elite sport facilities. He was the lead for the Caversham Lakes rowing facility.
Outside work, Alan is a keen footballer and runner. He describes himself as an enthusiastic beginner at rowing.
Dr. Ian Pickup is Chief Operating Officer at the University of East London, where he is responsible for the leadership, development and effective delivery of all student-facing professional services. Prior to this, Ian was Deputy COO at SOAS University of London, Head of the Student Experience at University College Cork, Ireland, and was Director of Student Affairs and Director of Sport and Wellbeing at the University of Roehampton.
He holds a PhD in Education from the University of Roehampton, where he also worked as a Principal Lecturer, becoming a National Teaching Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2007. Ian contributed to a range of national and international initiatives, including being the UK partner in an EU project relating to early years teacher education, and the training of NGO staff in the use of sport as a tool for social development in post disaster contexts. A teacher and coach, Ian has authored key texts to support initial teacher education in physical education and remains a passionate advocate for the educational benefits of sport and physical activity. Ian was among the first wave of professional rugby players with the Harlequins Rugby Club in the mid-1990s and maintains an active interest in a range of sports today.
Iain is an independent consultant providing expertise to organisations seeking to identify, evaluate and deliver a meaningful legacy from major events.
He was a member of the bid team that secured the Olympic and Paralympic Games for London and subsequently led work relating to the legacy of the 2012 Games, including 10 years leading the Major Events team at the Mayor of London’s agency responsible for international promotion and economic development, London & Partners. He is also a founding director, and now Honorary Member of, the International Association of Event Hosts and has an MBA degree from Cambridge University.
Iain's passion for sport often involves participating in physical challenges. This includes the London Marathon, RideLondon and rowing. He learnt to row at the University of Salford, has won an event at Henley Royal Regatta while at Cambridge University and has coached Loughborough Students Rowing Club.
John started his career as a journalist, working in regional newspapers before becoming Editorial Director of Teletext on ITV and Channel 4, the national interactive TV service, for 10 years. He is now a leader in the Corporate Responsibility field, leading CR for Tideway, the company building London's "super-sewer" underneath the River Thames. He has significant experience in community partnerships and in companies delivering social value.
John's sporting passion is cricket - he is still playing, just, and he has discovered the challenges and joys of rowing through Tideway's Oarsome Challenge charity marathons along the Thames.
Karen Morris has over 25 years' experience in sponsorship, both in media (at Classic FM as Head of Sponsorship), WPP and brandmeetsbrand, which she founded in 2003, as well as later taking over Sponsorship Consulting to expand further into European sponsorship.
Karen has a wealth of experience in sponsorship strategy and acquisition across all sectors including arts, entertainment, charity, not for profit, media and sport.
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Nick is a high performance coach with the GB Paralympic squad, and part of the highly successful coaching team that oversaw all four Paralympic boats winning medals at the Rio games and Tokyo 2020.
He found direction through rowing at a state school and after representing GB as a junior went on to attain a degree in Biology from Oxford Brookes University. After moving on from competing himself he built a career in coaching at the National High Performance centre.
With 18 years of involvement in rowing and witnessing first hand its power to positively shape lives he wants to help ensure the opportunities the sport offers are available to people from all walks of life.
Sarah is a chartered civil engineer with over twenty years' experience in project management working primarily in the construction and maritime sectors.
Sarah graduated from Bradford University in 1997 having spent time as a postgraduate researcher in Japan for a civil engineering firm and went on to work in private consultancy and for the Environment Agency.
She spent ten years between Cumbria, Lancashire and the Thames Barrier working in flood risk management before moving to the Port of London Authority (PLA).
Most recently Sarah was the PLA's Asset Strategy Manager and during her time there developed a love of rowing, primarily in the PLA's traditional cutters. Sarah has recently become director of Hawkshill Consulting Limited, a multidisciplinary consultancy offering project management and organisational change management services.
Sophie Hosking MBE, joined LYR's Board in May 2018. Sophie is a retired rower, having won a Gold medal for Great Britain in the Lightweight Double Scull at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
In the 2013 New Year's Honours, Sophie was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to rowing.
Sophie originally studied for her undergraduate degree in chemistry and physics at Durham University, but has since qualified as a Solicitor. She continues to be a member of London Rowing Club, where she served as the first female Captain from 2014 to 2016.
LYR has an extra level of governance that includes a group of Members that oversee the Annual General Meeting and the Annual Lunch held every October in central London and sign off the annual accounts and any and all returning and new Directors to the board of LYR
London Youth Rowing works in partnership with a wide range of organisations and welcomes support including partnerships, direct funding, volunteering and value in kind donations. If you would like to learn more about how you could work with London Youth Rowing, please visit our LYR Champions page or contact Andy Triggs Hodge, Director of Events and Corporate Partnerships athodge@londonyouthrowing.com
We are proud to work with the following partners:
Charity Number: 1122941. Company Number: 06243293. Royal Docks Adventure, 1012 Dockside Road, London, E16 2QT.
Tel: 0203 356 7178
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