Criteria for Equipment Grants

We do not give grants to individuals.

Most of our grants go to UK Rowing Clubs – but we may also support any club or organisation involved in “on water rowing-type” activities.  Recent awards have been made to Gig clubs and Scout groups.  We do not award grants for canoeing, kayaking, sailing or swimming.

The maximum grant which we will award to any club, school or organisation is £4,000 in any five year period.  This limit applies as a total across both our equipment grants and refurbishment grants, and can be comprised of a single grant or smaller grants aggregated over the period.

Our equipment grants are awarded as a 50% match to the monies spent by the club on the equipment purchased (up to a maximum of £4,000 including VAT).

Broadly, our support requires that applications must be non-elitist and either for the benefit of young people or those in full time education, or for the disabled.  We prefer to encourage participation in rowing by the young or disabled through the provision of items which get them “on the water“, namely rowing/sculling boats, sculls, oars, riggers and parts thereof.

In order to be considered for a grant, you must be:

  • located in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
  • an established club with an active junior/student programme, or with existing facilities suitable for disabled rowers
  • applying for a grant for a specific project and purpose, e.g. “a second hand 4x+ for the J13s so the club can run more Learn To Row courses for this age group” or “a new set of double sculls for our more experienced juniors so that they can compete at a higher level”.  Vague requests such as “more equipment for our juniors” are highly unlikely to result in a grant award.

We do NOT make grants for:

  • coaching fees, subsidised memberships, revenue or any commitment requiring long term support
  • capital items such as pontoons, boat racking/storage or other building works
  • launches or launch engines
  • minibuses or trailers
  • loud hailers or radios
  • lifejackets
  • ergometers or any other land training equipment
  • cox boxes or other boat telemetry
  • retrospective applications for equipment which has already been purchased

The Trustees retain absolute discretion when considering grant applications.

All equipment purchased under this scheme will be required to display a sticker indicating the contribution of the Rowing Foundation.  We will provide the stickers.

Requirements when Submitting an Application

The Trustees meet three times per year to consider applications received for Equipment Grants.  The deadline for submitting applications for their next meeting is Noon on Monday 26 May 2025.  

In order for the Trustees to consider an application, we require:

  • submission of a completed online Application Form (see below)
  • confirmation that your application meets all the criteria listed above

You may also be asked to provide a set of recent accounts for your Club.

Please note that once the funding window closes there will be a period of around one month before you hear the outcome of your application whilst the Trustees (who are all volunteers) process & consider the many submissions received.

If we award a grant then the Terms & Conditions of the Award must be endorsed by two Officers of the Club/Organisation (Chair, Captain, Secretary, etc).  You will also be responsible for providing proof of invoice(s) and your banking details in a timely manner to the Hon Secretary.

If you have any queries about your potential application then please get in touch via the “Contact Us” page

Apply for an Equipment Grant

 

Supported by Henley Royal Regatta Charitable Trust