Mersey Rowing Club is pleased to share an important milestone in the club’s development. We are now officially registered as a charity, marking a significant step in strengthening the club’s foundations and securing its future. While this change does not affect the day-to-day experience of rowing at Mersey, it reflects a long-term commitment to good governance, benefiting our community, and making the sport accessible to more people in and around Liverpool.
What does becoming a registered charity mean?
Becoming a registered charity means Mersey Rowing Club is now formally recognised by the Charity Commission as an organisation that exists for public benefit. It brings with it clear standards around governance, transparency, and accountability, helping to ensure the club is well run and sustainable. While day-to-day rowing remains the same, this status provides a stronger framework for how the club operates and plans for the future.
“Being recognised as a charity means we’ll be able to engage more proactively with the community. We’re already trying to break the barrier of elitism and socioeconomic differences so that everyone can access rowing. Being a charity will help make that even better.”
Laura Caveney
Club President
Why this matters for our members
For our members, charity status is about long-term security and stability. It reinforces that the club is run solely for the benefit of its community, not for profit, and that decisions are made with the club’s future in mind. It also strengthens safeguarding, financial oversight, and governance, giving confidence to members, parents, and supporters alike. In simple terms, it helps protect what makes Mersey Rowing Club what it is, now and for years to come.
Working with schools, organisations, and community groups
Charity status opens the door to new partnerships and opportunities. We are keen to work with schools, charities, and local organisations who share our values around health, wellbeing, and community development. Whether through learn-to-row programmes, youth engagement, or wider community initiatives, we see real potential to make rowing more accessible and inclusive. If you are interested in exploring how we could work together, we would welcome the conversation.
“We’ve got such a big junior squad that is just growing and growing, thanks to Andy Coyne (Junior Captain) and there are so many charities for youth rowing which we can get involved in now. It just means that we can expand our outreach and potentially support more kids, especially disadvantaged kids, getting into rowing through our facilities.”
Our charitable purpose
At its heart, Mersey Rowing Club exists to promote participation in rowing and physical activity, and to support health, wellbeing, and personal development through sport. We aim to make rowing accessible to people of different ages and backgrounds, while maintaining a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment. Charity status helps formalise this purpose and ensures it remains central to everything the club does.
Being able to support anyone is at the heart of Mersey Rowing Club’s ethos and values, which goes hand-in-hand with being a charity as it reinforces our community mindset.
Thank you to the volunteers who made this possible
Reaching this milestone would not have been possible without the time, care, and commitment of our volunteers. From club members and the committee to those who support the club week in, week out, their work often happens quietly but makes a lasting difference. Becoming a registered charity is a significant step forward, and it provides a strong platform for what comes next. We are grateful to everyone who helped get us here and excited about building on this foundation together.
Partner with Mersey Rowing Club
We would welcome the opportunity to work with schools, charities, community groups, and organisations of all kinds, whether sport-focused or not, to help more people access the sport of rowing. Beyond physical fitness, rowing supports mental wellbeing, confidence, and routine. It offers a reason to get out of the house, stay active year-round, and spend time outdoors, even during darker months. Just as importantly, it creates a strong sense of community, bringing people together, building friendships, and helping individuals feel part of something shared. If you are interested in exploring how we could work together, we would be pleased to hear from you.