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Toyota Community Fund pushes the boat out at Stratford-upon-Avon

A grant from the Toyota Community Fund has helped the club buy a new double scull and a set of specially modified sculls for adaptive athletes

Mark Dewdney, Stratford BC’s Head Adaptive Coach said, “The new boat means that our adaptive section can offer rowing coaching to a wider audience of disabled rowers who need specialised equipment so that they can compete, train and participate at a higher level. Two of our adaptive squad were invited to take part in British Rowing’s GB Paralympic trials and will be progressing on British Rowing’s Paralympic Training Pathway Programme with training camps in the UK and also overseas. We’re extremely grateful to the Toyota Community Fund for their grant, which has made this possible.”

Meanwhile Stratford-upon-Avon BC’s youngest adaptive athlete has put the specially commissioned blades to good use. He’s now able to scull at a higher level than before and has gone on to win races and has set his sights on more success!

Paul Stanton, Stratford-upon-Avon BC’s President said, “The Toyota Community Fund grant also means that the equipment bought can also be used by the rest of the Club’s squads for general recreational and training use as well as the more inclusive mixed ability rowing with adaptive and able bodied athletes rowing together”

The newly acquired double has been named ‘Mustardseed’ following Stratford BC’s tradition of calling boats after characters in Shakespeare’s plays: ‘Mustardseed’ is one of the fairies in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The is a programme of small grants designed to help local charities, schools and community projects. Since its inception in 2011, the fund has supported over 650 projects and provided over £1million in sponsorship.