Who are we?
St Neots Rowing Club is a volunteer-led community based on the River Great Ouse in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. The club has been part of the town for 160+ years, and welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds. We cater for all levels of experience, running learn-to-row courses for juniors and adults every year, as well as being home to experienced rowers who compete nationally and internationally.
As part of our 5-year development plan, we have the Rowing and Growing, 2030 project, which aims to get as many people from the local community as possible rowing and active.
Why are we crowdfunding?
We're raising money to purchase three new learner singles and four new rowing machines.
Every year we run learn-to-row courses for juniors and adults of all ages, to introduce new people to the sport of rowing and the club. This requires a club-wide effort from members, but also lots of equipment.
Learner singles are slightly wider than normal rowing boats, providing a more stable platform for those new to the water. They aren't just useful when learning: they can also be used by recreational rowers who want the freedom of going on the water alone, without all the wobbles (!); and they can be easily fitted with para-rowing equipment, so that we can cater for people with disabilities.
Rowing machines are an essential aid for learning rowing and for keeping fit. They can be used to teach the fundamentals of good technique and substitute for water sessions when the weather prohibitive. We have an aging set of rowing machines, and are looking to buy more to support us into the future.
The total cost of the project is £15,075:
- 3x Learner Singles: £11,115
- 4x Rowing machines: £3,960
Community impact
The rowing club has been part of the town for over 160 years, enabling people to enjoy the river and stay active. We want the number of people from all ages and abilities who can access rowing to grow. As the town grows with thousands of new homes being built in it and the surrounding area, we're positioned to meet the growing demand for sports and activities.
As a club we're proud to host the St Neots Dragon Boat Club and St Neots Riverside Runners and are always looking to create links with other clubs and local schools.
How you can play your part
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!
4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!