Class of 2025 - Celebrating Our Accessible Rowing VI Pilot Programme

We're absolutely thrilled to share a recap of our incredibly successful Accessible Rowing VI (Visually Impaired) pilot programme, funded by Love Rowing, which recently concluded after 12 inspiring weeks! This initiative truly embodies our charity's commitment to making rowing accessible to everyone, and the impact has been profound.

The final session was a real highlight, with Toby and John from RNIB Radio joining us to interview participants, coaches, volunteers, and staff about their experiences for a national broadcast. We were overwhelmed by the demand, with 10 participants signing up, one even travelling all the way from Cambridge to join us on the water!

While there were certainly challenges along the way – from adapting coaching methods for blind and visually impaired individuals to ensuring dedicated 1:1 support for safe travel and on-water guidance – the learning journey for everyone involved has been immense. The rewards, however, have been even greater. Watching the personal growth of each participant and seeing our coaches and volunteers develop new skills has been truly heartwarming.

As one participant beautifully put it after their eighth lesson: "I was born blind and today one of my dreams actually comes into reality... rowing very relaxed and listening to the water and enjoyed the splashing and I really wanted to make a splash, I really loved it and again one of my dreams became a reality today." This powerful feedback speaks volumes about the life-changing impact of the programme.

So, would we do it again? A resounding 100% YES! Our Accessible Rowing programme will recommence as soon as we secure more funding. If you know individuals, charitable trusts, or corporate foundations who might be interested in supporting this incredible initiative, please do connect them with Julia (julia@fulhamreachboatclub). 

Finally, a HUGE THANK YOU to our exceptionally talented coaches and dedicated member volunteers – Penny, Julia, Chris, Irene, Federico, Bryan, Suzanne, Bronagh, Marianne, Lei, Louise, Freddie, Emily, Heather, and James. Your commitment made this programme possible week after week, and we truly couldn't have done it without your unwavering support and generosity.