Empowering the next generation: How Brentford Boat Club is shaping the future of rowing coaching

Coaches at Brentford Boat Club Team Keane

Photo: Miranda Keane and Bruce Gascoine, Programme Leaders with the 2025 junior coaching cohort

This year, Active Thames funding will help Brentford Boat Club and Team Keane Sculling School to educate and certify young coaches in specific aspects of rowing coaching.

Throughout the programme, the young coaches will gain positive life skills such as confidence, independence, reliability and teamwork. The funding will also facilitate several qualifications for the young coaches, such as a British Rowing Coaching Award, RYA Coastal Powerboat Training & Licence, First Aid training, and other certifications specific to watersports. This coaching programme empowers them to contribute to the future of the sport by sharing their positive experiences and inspiring others to get involved.

As an organisation, Brentford Boat Club works with over 1,100 children each year through local state schools, many of which are situated in the second most deprived borough in London, and each with an extremely diverse student community. Active Thames funding will have a meaningful impact on the organisation, supporting its investment in young people's futures in rowing. By breaking down barriers to access, this support will foster a more diverse and inclusive rowing community, ensuring the sport is more accessible.

Miranda Keane, Team Keane Sculling School Director and Coach, said: “We are constantly impressed by the effort and commitment shown by our young people in their participation and we believe by investing in these young people's futures in the sport we are investing in creating a more diverse and inclusive Rowing community challenging the barriers preventing access to the sport which are sadly still prevalent today.”

The successful candidates of ‘The Junior Coaching Pathway 2024/5' shared their motivations for undertaking the coaching programme, what they hope to gain from the experience and what impact they would like to make in their community.

Ruby Wright, J17

Ruby attends the Green School for Girls in Brentford, Hounslow.

Ruby's personal statement

"One of my largest motivators when presented with the opportunity of becoming a coach was my desire to share the sport I adore with others in the community who may not have otherwise got involved. Rowing, perhaps often deemed as an elite pursuit, is not only a brilliant sport within itself, but also offers invaluable life skills such as discipline, teamwork, and resilience which can be applied both on and off the water.

"Initially, through the leadership of my school erg club, I found myself beginning to identify students, often from less fortunate backgrounds who I believed would benefit profusely from the sport, however may not have previously had the means to do so. As a result of my involvement within the junior coaching pathway, I have been able to work closely alongside staff and coaches at Team Keane in order to provide an invaluable inlet into the sport in both a recreational and competitive manner which aids to greatly enrich both the mental and physical wellbeing of young people.

"The ability to observe the transition from erg to water and the smiles this produced over the faces of all students involved throughout the process ignited such an immense sense of pride both within myself and the students themselves as they learnt how to collaborate and inspire one another as a crew. This feeling is one which struck deeply within me, and one which I am excited to have the privilege to continue sharing throughout my journey as a coach."

Lilly Owens, J16

Ruby attends the Green School for Girls in Brentford, Hounslow.

Lilly's personal statement

"I started rowing through a free opportunity, which if I hadn't got, I wouldn't be rowing. I found the sport very fun, engaging, and enjoyable, and due to this I continued and joined the squads at Team Keane (now Brentford Boat Club), and have now been rowing for around 4 years. I have volunteered at the Learn To Row camps over two summers. I think there should be more opportunities like the one I had as it brought new people into the sport, it helped to build a connection with the local community, and without this chance I would not have started rowing. I have volunteered to assist in coxing, coaching and filling in boats where needed for younger and older squads and Learn To Row sessions. I have volunteered to cox at multiple regattas for multiple squads.

"These experiences have helped me to better understand rowing and have helped me to assist in improving other people's rowing abilities. I would like to participate in this course as I think it would help me when I'm volunteering for other sessions as I have previously done, and at the indoor rowing club I help to run at my school. I believe it would improve my coaching capabilities, which would benefit many others inside the club."

Elina Ghai, J17

Elina was previously at the Brentford School for Girls and now attends the Twyford School Sixth Form.

Above: Elina coaching some of the Twyford after school rowing group for a warm up on the ergs before a chilly outing on the river!

Elina's personal statement

"I really enjoy volunteering and have managed to complete my bronze and silver DofE award, through which not only must you volunteer, but you must also do a sport. Team Keane Sculling school collaborated with my high school Brentford School for Girls - subjecting me to an amazing opportunity to try rowing there for free! Through this scheme, I fell in love with the sport and its community, and I am now a member of their rowing club.

"Since then, I have participated in many races, from our 2024 ‘rowathon’, to the Henley women's regatta. I could not imagine my life without rowing and I am so excited to coach school children under these schemes, supporting my club and watching children find enjoyment in such a wonderful sport!"

Freddie Amor, J15

Freddie attends St Marks Catholic School in Hounslow.

Freddie's personal statement

"The row-fit course was amazing to do with my friends and by myself sometimes. This course really opened up to me new doors I have never seen before, from someone who played no sport properly during my childhood, this is a game changer, now after looking back at myself after winning national medals, the journey was 100% worth it."

"I want to be able to foster kids to love this sport just as much as I truly do."

Alexander Shephard, J17

Alexander attends The Green School for Boys in Brentford, Hounslow.

Above: A small group of Junior athletes were kindly invited to meet the GB rowing team at their press shoot at Kew Gardens ahead of the Paris Olympics 2024 - Alexander is holding one of their oars!

Alexander's personal statement

"“I chose to take part in the junior coaching course to further my coaching skills and allow me to have the ability to get others into the sport which I love, giving them the opportunity to improve and become competitive athletes or even just to enjoy getting active in such a great sport.

"My rowing journey began at Team Keane through the community schools programme almost 5 years ago, and it now feels as if I have come full circle, helping others to get that same opportunity. The schools programme is such a good way to bring new athletes into rowing, as it shows off the sport in a fun and enjoyable way, while also teaching valuable life skills like teamwork and leadership. It is so important that programmes like these are available in the community, as it gives local children the chance to find sports they are good at or enjoy, while they may not be given opportunities like these otherwise.

"I am already a coach with the indoor rowing team at the lower school of my sixth form, which allows me to further develop my skills as a rowing coach, and further develop and encourage the children to take up rowing and have fun while doing it, in a safe and comfortable environment with their friends. Taking part in this course will not only help me improve as a coach, but also will aid me to improve in my own individual rowing career, as I begin to get a greater knowledge and understanding of my sport and how to make small personal changes without the need for an outside coach."

Jose Tidon, J16

Jose attends the Green School for Boys in Brentford, Hounslow.

Jose's personal statement

"I first got into rowing through the school's program. Team Keane came into my school and recruited the top two of each year group in an erg test for a learn-to-row six-week program. During those six weeks, I developed a love for rowing as I made loads of friends, I enjoyed being on the water and since then rowing has been a massive part of my life. I volunteered during the 2023 and 2024 Team Keane summer camps and only missed four days (one of which was because of riots) between both camps. During the 23/24 season, I would also volunteer some Sundays for the J14 weekend session. I have also volunteered at many L2R holiday camps.

"Throughout my time volunteering I have learnt to coach from the cox, stroke and bow seat of octos quads and doubles. In my two years of rowing, I have developed my technique and have learnt how to explain and demonstrate drills to improve other people’s rowing. With my growing experience in rowing, I have found that other rowers at my club from my school have a sense of respect for me. This allows me to give them some technical advice but also lead them during the National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships. To be able to coach will allow me to spread my connections further and allow others in the local community to get involved and make rowing widely available for everyone."