Grant will help club reach out (From Worcester News)

Grant will help club reach out

6:42pm Thursday 8th July 2010 in

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WORCESTER Rowing Club are celebrating after scooping a grant of £25,000, thanks to Herefordshire and Worcestershire County Sports Partnership.

The club, which is affiliated to British Rowing, was handed the funding from national government initiative Aiming High for Disabled Children (AHDC).

The partnership co-ordinated the rowing club’s application for the grant as part of their aim to encourage sporting accessibility for all in the two counties.

The funding will provide disabled children and their families the opportunity to enjoy a respite break with all necessary equipment adapted for their use.

Steen McCollin, captain at Worcester Rowing Club, said: “The lack of suitable and safe equipment for disabled participants has meant that, all too often, they are unable to take part in rowing with confidence in their own safety.

“This funding has allowed us to purchase specialist equipment and is absolutely fantastic news for both the club and disabled rowers.

“Previously, the club ran a small project for visually impaired children and young people using boats that are old and near their decommission date. With the purchase of new boats, we will be able to offer this service in a safer environment for more young people.”

AHDC is the government’s transformation programme for disabled children’s services in England, jointly led by the Department for Children, Schools & Families and the Department of Health.

Stephen Brewster, director of the sports partnership, said: “Accessing funding in order to improve sporting provision is a key element of our work so we are thrilled to have been successful in our bid to help disabled rowers at Worcester Rowing Club.

“The grant will ensure participants can enjoy the many benefits of rowing and hopefully provide a platform for them to grow in confidence to develop their rowing skills.”

Steen added: “At the moment, we have a small number of disabled participants.

“The funding and purchase of more equipment will enable us to provide regular and enhanced activity and access for more participants.

“Our aim is to encourage integration for these participants thus ensuring we can offer a fully-inclusive rowing club.”