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New opportunities for young people to try rowing across Scotland

Posted: 07 October 2026

Investment through the 2026 Summer of Sport will support free and low-cost rowing opportunities across Scotland this autumn, winter and into 2027.

Scottish Rowing has trained 12 young people as community outreach coaches to help more children and young people experience rowing for the first time.

The new coaches will work alongside Scottish Rowing’s development team to support dozens of opportunities to try the sport through schools, universities and clubs. Scottish Rowing is working with local partners, including local authorities, to bring these activities to communities across Scotland.

The work forms part of the national 2026 Summer of Sport initiative, funded by a £20 million investment from the Scottish Government and facilitated by sportscotland.

Training was led by Hannah Vines, the 2024 UK Coaching Community Coach of the Year and a British Rowing coach educator, who visited Scotland to help prepare the new coaches for their roles.

Scottish Rowing’s Head of Development & Coaching, Adam Martin, said:

“This investment is helping us open up rowing to more children and young people across Scotland. With 12 new outreach coaches working alongside our development team, we can reach more communities and give clubs and partners more support to introduce young people to the sport.

“From the outset, we wanted to make sure these opportunities would continue well beyond this summer. By investing in the training of these coaches, we’re putting the people and skills in place to help more young people get active through rowing for years to come.”

Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said:

 “The 2026 Summer of Sport has already helped thousands of young people across Scotland get active and experience the wider benefits of taking part in sport and physical activity. As we move into autumn and winter, it’s fantastic to see free and low-cost opportunities continuing across Scotland giving even more young people the chance to take part.

“By working with local partners, we’re helping to break down barriers to participation and create a lasting sporting legacy that extends far beyond the excitement of this incredible summer of sport.”

Launched in May, the 2026 Summer of Sport aims to remove barriers to participation and give more young people aged three to 26 the opportunity to be active, regardless of their background or experience.

To find out about upcoming rowing activities and how to get involved, contact Adam Martin adam.martin@scottish-rowing.org.uk.

For more information about the national initiative, visit Summer of Sport  - sportscotland the national agency for sport in Scotland

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