North West Strategic Plan

The North West Regional Rowing Council represents the clubs and events within Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Staffordshire areas. The North West has been major player in Project Oarsome with seven schemes developing formal links with over 14 schools in the maintained sector. Our aim is to increase the number of clubs with school links offering rowing, both on the water and through indoor rowing in schools. The NWRC will work to provide a support structure to its member clubs and events. It will encourage developing partnerships with the Regional Sports Council and Regional Sports Boards with the aim of achieving the regional objectives and targets.

Summary of Regional Priorities:

The North West Rowing Council Regional Plan 2005-2009 will build on the work done within the region to develop the sport both at Junior level and for new participant groups. There is a key need to develop facilities in a number of key rowing centres. The aim will be to provide the capacity to support the expansion of the sport at all levels of participation as well as providing modern facilities for existing participants. Additionally we will support the development of new clubs where there is an existing water facility, as well as supporting proposals for sustainable new water and land based facilities.

Our aim will be to increase the rate of participation by 20% over the life of the plan and to develop clubs capacity to respond to this increase. Clubs are also important in providing access opportunities to the high performance pathway leading to World Class competition.

The region will also promote the development of modern management in all of its clubs with a view to developing the capacity and effectiveness of the region. The NWRC will also encourage an increase the uptake of training and education, and the forming of lasting and mutually beneficial links with the local community, schools and universities.

The NWRC will through the CDO role develop links with County Sports Partnerships and Local Sports Partnership and especially to deliver the Community Sports Coach Scheme with the aim of bringing the sport to the wider community.

There will be a key emphasis on developing new partnerships in an ever growing leisure market responding to the emphasis on health promotion and well being. Rowing is a sport that can be accessed at many different levels and an expansion of non-competitive participation will be encouraged.

The Region will encourage the expansion of the sport through greater participation in dry rowing investigating a variety of development models. The North West has significant good practice in bringing together the wider community of indoor rowers and will consider the most effective way of developing this opportunity of supporting the wider health and social welfare of our communities.

The NWRRC aims to build the capacity of existing clubs by supporting them in modernising and improving their facilities and equipment. Recent analyses have identified a number of development issues and concerns which includes:

1. The facilities' priorities lie within the Cheshire basin and the extreme north of the region. The facilities at Chester and Lancaster in particular are in need of serious improvement.
2. In Greater Manchester the facilities at Trafford are also hindering the progress of this expanding club.
3. The facilities at Northwich and Warrington will need modernising in the longer term.