WAGS Strategic Plan

WAGS Regional Rowing Council represents all members across the counties of Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Somerset, and the unitary authority areas previously referred to as the county of Avon.

The RRC itself has been elected by, and is here to support its members, whether they be grouped by open clubs, universities or schools, and will represent them and their interests in the wider community.

The region will provide encouragement, services and information to its members and will act as an interface between clubs and the ARA, while actively promoting co-operation between Clubs and society for their mutual benefit.

The WAGS Forward Plan will build on our successes, whether it be in providing more Olympic rowers (Three Golds, six participants), training for veterans, (Eight Golds at the World Championships) bettering our steadily improving place in the Junior Inter-Regional regatta, incrementing our Adaptive rowing programme (the only rowing club to be specifically listed in the Disability Sport Foundation is in this region) or simply providing more opportunities for the population to take part in enjoyable physical activity in line with the Government's 'Game Plan'.

Most of the activities required for the encouragement of rowing, organisation, resourcing, the raising of standards, coaching, competition, inclusivity and so on, are the responsibility of all clubs, including the universities, colleges and schools in the region. There are however certain activities that must be organised and run on a regional basis.

While the region fully supports all clubs in their day-to-day activities, the primary concern and priority for this region in the next five years must be the dire state of the regions clubs' facilities. Only two clubs hold the freehold of their premises; the others hold tenancies varying from 5 to 51 years duration, and many tenures are far from secure. All facilities are of the most basic nature, and some clubs lack even the most elemental hygienic requirements. One club even has no shelter either for its members or its equipment. It is a credit to the outstanding quality of the volunteers in this region that Clubs are functioning, expanding and providing sport, training and support to all sections of the community in spite of the problems.

The Regional Rowing Council will undertake to continue to support fully all its members and member clubs in their projects, whether this be Project Oarsome, World Class Start, Clubmark or any ARA initiative, or indeed their own development plans.