Funding

Support our appeal - invest in the future of WBSBC

The Windsor Boys School Boat Club (WBSBC) is a state comprehensive school club with an outstanding reputation on the national and international rowing stage. The club has produced several GB rowers and won countless medals, including the highly prestigious Fawley Cup at Henley Royal Regatta on several occasions. The rowing programme develops boys into exceptional well-rounded and self-disciplined athletes with bright futures. 

However, the only way we can continue to provide rowing opportunities for aspiring rowers is to secure a permanent rowing base. The land we currently use, the Mike Tovell Training Centre (MTTC), is owned by a private investor and would cost us around £750,000 to purchase the land and refurbish the facilities. We aim to raise as much as possible as a community and try to get match funding from other sources.

By securing MTTC we hope to create a rowing facility to provide the basic needs for the boys to continue to grow and flourish, as well as building a clubhouse that could be used by the wider community for events and business hire.

To enable WBSBC to continue and provide numerous opportunities for current and future generations of rowers, we are thrilled to announce our Buy a Slab Campaign! Each contribution brings us closer to establishing a lasting home for WBSBC and our collective aspirations. Every slab laid represents progress, stability and growth.

Sign up to buy your slab today and in return you will:

Choose from a range of engraved slab sizes from £250 to £10,000 or name a boat from £25,000.

What benefits does WBSBC provide?

The school's core value of Uno Animo (with one spirit) emphasizes the importance of teamwork, ambition, determination and leadership – intrinsic sporting excellence values. The boys learn self-reliance, discipline and team spirit with a positive mental attitude.

Giving students the chance to row demonstrates the club's belief that anyone can become an exceptional athlete. Since 2000, WBSBC rowers have represented Great Britain at junior level, including at the World Championships. They are racing in the Henley Royal Regatta Fawley Challenge Cup again in 2024 and most recently won their event at The Head of the Charles in the USA.

Alumni rowers have gone on to row for prestigious UK university rowing teams, achieved scholarships at USA Ivy League universities, and worked in top positions for rowing clubs, sports institutions and paralympic organisations.

Rowing positively influences academic performance, improving overall energy levels and focus - ideal for shaping a teenager's ambitions. Your contribution will empower the boys to reach their potential, breaking barriers and creating pathways to success.

The community spirit in WBSBC has always been incredible and your collective investment will strengthen community bonds, fostering a supportive environment where the boys can grow in the sport. Parents, alumni and the wider community are all deeply invested in WBSBC today and play an active role in supporting and maintaining the site, enabling the boys to thrive in the world of rowing.

Your donation will support the next generation to victory at the summit of junior rowing!

"Mark Wilkinson and his team have a remarkable ability to develop and nurture class after class of young schoolboys from dreamers to winners on the grandest of stages." Wintech Racing Boats

What facilities do we have in place now?

WBSBC currently operates out of two sites: Stovell Boathouse, in use since the late 1950s, is the base for junior crews. Space is limited and there’s already a struggle to increase cohort sizes. Senior crews boat from The Mike Tovell Training Centre (MTTC) near Windsor Marina, with learn-to-row and private matches taking place from here too. The MTTC has existed for around four years, starting from derelict leased land where temporary structures provide storage for boats and changing facilities. 

With the land being privately owned, there is an element of uncertainty about the future and no opportunity for permanent facilities to be refurbished.

“Rarely does a season go by where the green and gold-clad scullers do not make an appearance at the business end of the junior rowing circuit, such is the incredible longevity and strength of their program. Beyond the obvious stack of results, the institution stands proud as one of the few state schools to consistently win silverware in a community dominated by the public schooling system.” Junior Rowing News

Please join us in building a solid foundation for our shared dreams.

How much is needed?

It would be catastrophic to WBSBC (current and future boys) and junior rowing nationally if we lose MTTC as rowing is a transformative experience that moulds our boys into exceptional young men. The lessons learned on the water extend far beyond the sport, shaping their character, values, and capabilities, preparing them to excel in all aspects of life.

We are looking to raise £750,000 to purchase the land and develop the facilities. Whatever we raise will be supplemented by grants and matched funding where possible, so the more we raise the better! Your donation towards purchasing a foundation slab to permanently acquire MTTC is a crucial step in securing the future of the WBSBC. 

Together we can create a lasting impact that will benefit generations to come.  Your generosity today will pave the way for a sustainable and thriving tomorrow. 

Payment options

By donating, you’re becoming part of our rowing family and contributing to the spirit of competition and camaraderie.

Help us build this dream together!

See more here on corporate sponsorship. 

our Sponsor

Thanks to Artichoke Design Architectural Consultancy for their sponsorship and support with the design of a new clubhouse.