FRBC WINS COMMUNITY CLUB OF THE YEAR

Fulham Reach Boat Club extends its heartfelt thanks to the Community Sport and Recreation Award judges, and a massive well done to all our rowers, coaches, staff and supporters who help create such a special place for the community to thrive.

FRBC's Alastair Horn, Boathouse Manager, and Julia Philipson, Head of Fundraising, collected the award from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and Lisa O'Keefe, Secretary General of the IWG Women and Sport. And are pictured with Kim Leadbeater MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Sport, at Headingley Stadium in Leeds.

Sky News Sports Presenter, Jacquie Beltrao, summed up the event on X/Twitter as "it's like the Oscars but for grassroots sport!".

The award presentation was followed up by a rendition of Happy Birthday to celebrate the Duke of Edinburgh's 60th Birthday. The duke made a speech and stressed the importance of improving diversity and inclusion in sport, saying:

"The really important thing is that sense of belonging. We must do better to make everybody feel part of sport." 

Adam Freeman-Pask, CEO of FRBC, commented on receiving the good news of the award:

"It's amazing that our charity, Fulham Reach Boat Club, has won this prestigious award, there are around 150,000 sports clubs in the UK and this year we have been recognised as Community Club of the Year! I have always felt rowing gets overlooked as a sport to help drive positive change in individuals and bring communities together, this award helps put our sport firmly on the map. A huge credit goes to all the hard work of the rowers, coaches, staff and supporters for making FRBC a success since it was established 10 years ago."

FRBC runs several programmes benefiting people from a wide range of backgrounds, which caught the attention of the Community Sport and Recreation Award judges.

In the 2022/23 academic year 866 children were reached through the State School Rowing Initiative, the Free Water Sports Weeks during school holidays expanded its number of participants by 37% to reach children from deprived areas; and the Boats Not Bars initiative has improved the physical and psychological wellbeing of participants, also winning the Innovation Award at the Sports Business Awards a couple of months ago.

This is just a snapshot of our work, with countless testimonials and survey results attesting to the positive impact Fulham Reach Boat Club has had on the lives of individuals in the community.

Well done and congratulations to all involved!

You can read more about our impact in our Community Impact report and if you would like to support our work you can donate here.