Love Rowing

What Love Rowing does

Love Rowing is the trading name of the British Rowing Charitable Foundation (company number 11490809, registered charity number 1179845 in England and Wales), launched in December 2019 and headquartered at 6 Lower Mall, London. It operates as a grant-making and programme-funding charity with a stated mission to make rowing more accessible and inclusive across the UK, targeting three specific underrepresented groups: disabled people, young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and ethnically diverse communities. Programme delivery is conducted through partnerships with British Rowing's network of 1,000+ affiliated clubs, state schools, independent schools, and specialist disability and refugee charities, while operational costs are kept low through value-in-kind services from British Rowing staff.

The charity's core product surface consists of three programmatic pillars (State School Programme, Adaptive Programme, Community Programme) and several named initiatives including the annual Big Row fundraising challenge (launched 2021), Row the Rhythm (visually impaired rowing, piloted 2023), Get Going Get Rowing (Northern Ireland indoor rowing in schools), Bedford Ready to Row (youth outreach), the Changing Lives Together Fund, and the Inclusive Club Fund. There is no proprietary technology platform; delivery is funded through grants and supported by conventional website, social, email and event channels, with measurable outcomes reported via case studies and beneficiary testimonials.

Financially, Love Rowing raises funds from five streams: individual donations (one-off and monthly), event-based fundraising led by The Big Row, corporate partnerships, grants from charitable trusts and foundations (Gosling, Kitchin, Hargreaves, Sport England, Henley Royal Regatta Charitable Trust and others), and an affiliate-shopping programme via Give as You Live. As a non-profit, no pricing applies; grant sizes to delivery partners range from £500 to over £10,000, with most awards between £2,000 and £4,000 through the Changing Lives Together Fund, and the charity has supported 80 projects reaching 12,669 beneficiaries since launch.

Name

Love Rowing

Legal name

British Rowing Charitable Foundation

Website

https://loverowing.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Love Rowing is the British Rowing Charitable Foundation, a UK charity that funds inclusive rowing programmes for disabled people, young people from deprived areas, and ethnically diverse communities through grants to rowing clubs and schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Inclusion Charity

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Sailing & Water Sports Teams/Clubs (Sailing, Rowing, Surfing) (MPAKABAH)

Keywords

• Inclusive rowing programmes
• Charitable foundation grants
• Adaptive rowing access
• Youth sport inclusion
• Community rowing initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-off or regular monthly donations from individual supporters. Donors can set up payments via the website. Legacy giving (bequests) is also encouraged.
2. Events and Challenges: The Big Row annual fundraiser generates donations through challenge events. Participants raise funds through rowing challenges. Partnership with Charity Challenge for additional challenge events globally.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Philanthropic partnerships with corporate organisations who share goals of equal access and social capital. Companies support through donations, employee engagement, and team building activities around rowing.
4. Grants from Trusts and Foundations: Funding from charitable trusts and foundations including The Gosling Foundation, The Kitchin Society, The Hargreaves Foundation, Sport England, Henley Royal Regatta Charitable Trust, and others to support specific rowing programmes.
5. Affiliate/Shopping: Donors can raise funds through shopping at 6,000+ stores via Give as You Live, generating cashback-style donations at no cost to supporters.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Love Rowing is the charitable foundation of British Rowing, established in December 2019 to transform lives through rowing by funding and supporting inclusive rowing programmes across the UK. It provides grants to rowing clubs, schools, and community organisations to deliver programmes for disabled people, young people from deprived areas, and ethnically diverse communities. It also runs named inclusion initiatives (Row the Rhythm, Get Going Get Rowing, Bedford Ready to Row) and The Big Row, an annual community fundraising challenge.

Product overview

Love Rowing is the trading name for the British Rowing Charitable Foundation, a charity launched in December 2019 that operates as a unified grant-making and programme delivery organization rather than a commercial product company. The organization delivers three core programmatic areas: the State School Programme (supporting rowing in state schools with disadvantaged communities), the Adaptive Programme (for people with disabilities), and the Community Programme (indoor rowing in community settings). Key named programmes include The Big Row (annual fundraising challenge), Row the Rhythm (visual impairment rowing), Get Going Get Rowing (school indoor rowing), and Bedford Ready to Row (youth outreach). The organization also manages grant funds including the Changing Lives Together Fund and Inclusive Club Fund to support inclusive rowing projects across the UK.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Big Row: Love Rowing's flagship annual fundraising challenge bringing together individuals, clubs, schools, regattas, and organisations to collectively take on endurance challenges in support of inclusive and accessible rowing.
• Row the Rhythm

Products and services

• State School Programme Funded programme supporting rowing clubs to work with state schools and drive inclusion of currently underrepresented and disadvantaged communities into the sport of rowing. Includes indoor rowing in PE, after-school clubs, and water-based transition pathways.
• Adaptive Programme Funded programme supporting the development of high-quality and accessible rowing programmes for people with disabilities and impairments, including wheelchair users, visually impaired individuals, and those with brain injuries or cerebral palsy.
• Community Programme Funded programme delivering inclusive indoor rowing activity in new community settings, in partnership with trusted local organisations, to bring rowing to ethnically diverse and marginalised communities.
• The Big Row Love Rowing's flagship annual fundraising challenge that mobilises individuals, clubs, schools, regattas, and organisations to collectively complete endurance rowing and multi-discipline challenges in support of inclusive and accessible rowing.
• Row the Rhythm Inclusive rowing programme for people with a visual impairment, providing regular introductory sessions, transport support, and pathways to become club members. Expanding to additional clubs including Hereford, Leicester, and Fulham Reach.
• Get Going Get Rowing Programme inspiring young people to try rowing through positive, inclusive, accessible, and fun indoor rowing in schools and special schools, with opportunities to link with local rowing clubs. Targeted at disadvantaged backgrounds and special educational needs.
• Bedford Ready to Row Youth outreach project partnering with state schools to provide access to rowing through indoor rowing clubs and water-based sessions, pairing independent school facilities with state school pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Changing Lives Together Fund Open grant fund offering awards from £500 to over £10,000 (most awards £2,000-£4,000) to support projects that open up participation, remove barriers, and help more people access the physical, mental, and social benefits of rowing.
• Inclusive Club Fund Grant fund for affiliated rowing clubs that raised funds during The Big Row, awarded for projects enabling or improving inclusive and accessible rowing at club level.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12,669 people positively impacted since launch in 2019
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• British RowingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLove Rowing is the charitable foundation of British Rowing. The British Rowing staff team provides value in kind business services support to the Foundation, keeping the cost base low and enabling funds to go directly into programmes. Seb Walker sits on Love Rowing's Board of Trustees as British Rowing's Nominated Director.
• CamsightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal sight loss charity in Peterborough that partnered with Peterborough City Rowing Club to create Row the Rhythm - regular introductory rowing sessions and transport for people with a visual impairment. The partnership has expanded to include other clubs.
• Silverlinings Brain Injury CharitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity specialising in supporting people affected by traumatic brain injuries. Partners with City of Oxford Rowing Club to deliver monthly community rowing sessions funded by Love Rowing grants. Simon, a Silverlinings member, described rowing as giving him confidence to get back on the water following his injury.
• Charity ChallengesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMulti-award winning challenge company operating challenge events globally from Amazon to Zambezi. Partners with Love Rowing to offer additional challenge event options for fundraisers beyond The Big Row annual fundraiser.
• Peterborough City Rowing ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead club for Row the Rhythm programme, piloting introductory rowing for people with visual impairment in 2023. Provides monthly sessions, weekly development sessions, volunteer buddies, and subsidised fees. Mentors other clubs (Hereford, Leicester, Fulham Reach) expanding the programme.
• Hereford Rowing ClubsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of Row the Rhythm expansion funding to pilot rowing sessions for people with visual impairment, supported by Peterborough City Rowing Club mentors.
• Leicester Rowing ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead club for Castle Mead Academy project and recipient of Row the Rhythm expansion funding. Introducing rowing to state school students and visually impaired individuals, with participants progressing to competitive rowing.
• Fulham Reach Boat ClubsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of Row the Rhythm expansion funding for visual impairment rowing sessions, supported by Peterborough City Rowing Club mentorship.
• Radley CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Oxford Academy (state school) to run learn to row courses for year 8 students who couldn't afford to access rowing. Participated in The Big Row raising £746 for the programme.
• The Gorse Academies TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState schools in Leeds with above average pupils on free school meals. Delivers indoor rowing to up to 5,800 students per year. Love Rowing funded water-based taster sessions for 323 children. Project includes provision for disabled students.
• Bedford School (Harpur Trust)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent school providing access to rowing facilities and student volunteers for Bedford Ready to Row project, partnering with 3 state schools.
• Goldington AcademysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerState school participating in Bedford Ready to Row programme. Students accessing rowing club who might not otherwise engage in physical activity, many from pupil premium backgrounds.
• Tyne Amateur Rowing ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecipient of youth engagement programme funding reaching 1,077 young people from lower socio-economic groups across two schools. Demonstrated improvements in attendance and behaviour at school.
• Guildford Rowing ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTruly inclusive club with thriving adaptive squad (18 disabled people regularly participating). Love Rowing funded equipment and access to additional funding for hoist to enable wheelchair users to access water.
• International Community of Sunderland (ICOS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organisation reaching refugees, asylum seekers, and ethnically diverse communities since 2009. Partnership with Sunderland Rowing Club bringing 45 people to try rowing, 2 became club members.
• WinTech Racing x Rowing BlazerssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduct collaboration where Love Rowing works alongside WinTech Racing x Rowing Blazers collaboration to support inclusion in rowing.
• Leander ClubsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of Leander Library Rowing Book Talks where Cath Bishop (Love Rowing Trustee) spoke about The Long Win. Proceeds split between Love Rowing and Leander Trust.
• Leander TrustsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-beneficiary with Love Rowing of Leander Library Book Talk events. Both charities help people through rowing with aligned aims.
• Rowing IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoverning body for rowing in Northern Ireland, partner for Get Going Get Rowing project reaching 800 young people including disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs.
• Queens University BelfastsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution for Get Going Get Rowing project in Northern Ireland, first Love Rowing funded project in the region.
• London Youth RowingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner at Rocking the Boat Conference sharing best practice for inclusive school projects. Bringing rowing to young people who would not previously have been able to try the sport.
• Warrington Youth RowingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConference co-host sharing best practice for inclusive youth rowing initiatives. Helping bring sport to new audiences.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sported: UK sport-for-development charity supporting community groups to engage disadvantaged young people through sport. Comparable beneficiary profile and grant-making/facilitation model, though not rowing-specific.
• Access Sport: UK charity working to make sport more inclusive and accessible for disadvantaged children. Wider in scope than Love Rowing across multiple sports, but directly comparable in mission and target beneficiary cohorts.
• Activity Alliance: National disability and sport organisation (formerly EFDS) supporting disabled people into activity. Operates across many sports with an inclusion mandate directly comparable to Love Rowing's adaptive programmes.

Direct peers

• Henley Stewards Charitable Trust: UK rowing charity supporting community access to the sport and co-hosting the Rocking the Boat inclusive rowing conference with Love Rowing. Closely aligned as a rowing-specific grant-giving foundation.
• Community Rowing, Inc. Boston-based non-profit making rowing accessible to a diverse community regardless of means, ability or experience. Functions as Love Rowing's closest international equivalent with a similar adaptive and inclusion-driven mission.
• London Youth Rowing: UK charity dedicated to bringing rowing to young people from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds in London. Operates as a sport-for-development peer in the same rowing inclusion space, working through schools and community partners much like Love Rowing.
• Leander Trust: Charitable arm of Leander Club supporting people through rowing, with co-fundraising initiatives (Leander Library Book Talks) and aligned inclusion aims. Directly comparable as a rowing-focused charitable foundation in the UK.
• Warrington Youth Rowing: Community-focused youth rowing charity in the North West of England. Co-hosts best-practice conferences with Love Rowing and serves a comparable mission of widening access to rowing for under-represented young people.

Emerging players

• British Blind Sport: UK charity helping blind and partially sighted people get involved in sport, including adaptive rowing. Direct overlap with Love Rowing's Row the Rhythm programme targeting visually impaired participants.

Others

• Sport England: National body distributing Lottery and government funding to grassroots sport, and a major current funder of Love Rowing. Included as a key ecosystem partner rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/LoveRowing_BRCF
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61556335333867
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/love-rowing
• Instagraminstagram.com/loverowing_brcf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Love Rowing