Target reached!
Thursday 6th December - ALL FINISHED! - SMASHED IT! - YOU LEGENDS! Still £15,000! &...
Coalporters Northam Bridge Archway Development
Southampton, England, United Kingdom
Aim
We need somewhere to store our boats. The Council are willing to let us use an arch in the nearby bridge, but we must fund all construction.
THE PROJECT
Our aim is to turn an unused and unloved arch under a bridge into much needed boat storage.
THE CLUB
Coalporters is an amateur rowing club based next to Northam Bridge in Southampton. It was formed in 1875 by river and dock workers who used to row coal supply boats to the many steam ships in Southampton.
These days we draw members from all walks of life in the Southampton area and most notably from the nearby Solent University who have been linked to the club for over 20 years. The University have their own college league to compete in but move across to coastal rowing in their summer to race in the Hampshire & Dorset championship.
Coalporters has been part of this championship every year since the competition formation in 1903. Each of the 13 clubs in the Association host a regatta over the summer for every level of ability from Novice to Senior.
The winners of our Association go on to compete against the winners of Devon & Cornwall and Sussex & Kent to decide who will be the South Coast Champions.
Coalporters also have a thriving river section and we race everywhere from Dartmouth to Chester. In the last year we have had crews racing at Henley Royal Regatta and Ladies Henley.
BENEFITS of ROWING:
Rowing at Coalporters is a fantastic way to meet new people and become part of a new and supportive family. We have members from every walk of life, from 8 years old through to nearly 80 years young.
Taking part brings many benefits, including much improved fitness, weight control, stress reduction and the opportunity of being part of a close knit team.
Whether your ambitions are to excel in sports or just row for fun, the club has many different opportunities available.
WHY ARE WE CROWDFUNDING ?
Our rowing club has reached a crunch point - our existing boathouse is bursting at the seams, with boats jammed in every which-way. Additionally, our biggest boats the River Eights can't be stored inside and are kept on waste ground behind the club, vulnerable to vandalism and the weather.
In addition, moving boats in and out of the existing storage is now becoming a real problem both in the way they have to be handled and for safety reasons due to the lack of maneuverable space we have. Unfortunately, no matter how much care is taken, sometimes boats are damaged which can be very expensive to repair.
The Northam Bridge Arch
Beside Coalporters Rowing Club is an old railway arch that sadly is being used for anti-social activity and fly tipping. Developing new secure boat storage in this redundant space will not only help the club, but also cleans up the area, benefits the local community and the new housing development on the other side of the bridge.
Using this space for boat storage will give us the room we desperately need, will help grow the club for the future and help Southampton City Council to reduce the amount of time spent removing rubbish and graffiti. Coalporters will be managing and maintaining the area, helping to make it better for nearby residents, walkers and other boat users on the river.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
We are working in partnership with Sport England to make this project a reality but need your help as well.
We need to raise £15,000 between now and the 6th December.
If you would like to help, please make a donation today.
Every pound toward the Northam Arch Fund will benefit rowing enthusiasts
and the local community in and around Southampton.
Thank-you in advance for your kind support
This project successfully funded on 6th December 2018