Introducing Active Row!

On Monday 16th October, London Youth Rowing launched Active Row with triple Olympic Champion Andrew Triggs-Hodge and Olympic silver medalist Jessica Eddie at Shadwell Basin Outdoor Activity Centre. Thanks to top tier funding from Sport England and new partner Tideway, the mission is to get 8,000 more young people active across the capital.

The programme will focus on engaging young people who are less likely to participate in physical activity, such as those from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds, girls and individuals with special educational needs or a disability. Working with 76 schools, during the next four years regular outdoor activity will be taking place at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and eight additional sites across London including along the River Thames, reconnecting young people with the iconic river.

Jessica Eddie and Andrew Triggs-Hodge met 30 young people from three partner schools in Tower Hamlets and Hackney, that have fully embraced the programme in recent years. Students took part in on-water and indoor rowing activity to showcase programme activity.

London Youth Rowing (LYR) have already engaged over 2,000 young people each year since 2012 from mainstream and Special Educational Needs Schools in rowing, as part of the national network of Sport England Satellite Hubs and Clubs. The team are excited to be able to build on previous years, having secured funding for an unprecedented third cycle with Sport England funding.

‘It’s great to know so many young people are rowing and getting active,’ said Eddie. ‘Sport is so important for better physical and mental health, and rowing is a unique and engaging way to encourage children to get outside and exercise.’

LYR is a ground breaking sports charity that aims to develop young people through physical activity and open access to rowing at all levels. Using the power of sport, the work enables disadvantaged young people to develop their life skills and improve their physical, social and mental wellbeing.

Andrew Triggs Hodge won three Olympic gold medals from Rio, Beijing and London and now works as a programme manager for Tideway, the company building the Thames Tideway Tunnel helping to tackle sewage pollution in the River Thames.

Andrew said: ‘We’re delighted to get behind LYR to give thousands of children who would not usually get the chance an opportunity to get active and learn great life skills through rowing, as well as connecting with the iconic, world-renowned River Thames.’

Jayne Molyneux, Sport England’s Director Children and Young People, said: ‘If young people enjoy a positive experience of sport they are more likely to remain active and healthy as adults. We’re delighted to award LYR with £1.3 million of National Lottery funding over 4 years, allowing LYR to expand their reach, including supporting eight Community Coaches, school rowing machines and competition networks.’

London Youth Rowing believe that indoor rowing is a great year-round activity and often a popular choice for teenagers who do not enjoy other traditional sports. Both indoor rowing and on-water rowing foster determination, commitment, and teamwork to achieve personal and team challenges.