TCR FAQs

Thames Community Rowing (TCR) is a brand operated by Skerries for Schools, a charitable organisation that introduces school students and disadvantaged adults to rowing. TCR is the offering geared specifically for disadvantaged adult groups. TCR and S4S both use a specially designed type of boat called a skerry rowed by up to eight people. It also helps them to appreciate their environment in a totally new way.

We welcome disadvantaged adults of all needs and of all abilities to TCR. Wherever possible we will work with you to accommodate disabilities by making adaptations as required, to row with us where is is safe and practical to do so. We will do risk assessments if there are particular needs, but this is a sport that can accommodate practically everyone.

Fixed seat rowing is a great sport, which is growing faster than any other water sport in the UK. In a normal configuration, eight people can make up a crew, rowing side by side as pairs on four thwarts. We can row with fewer people enabling extra crew to support other rowers or passengers as appropriate. In addition there is a cox and room for a passenger.

It is an unusual sport in that men and women can participate as part of the same team.

Groups of young people are served by our Skerries for Schools offer.

We are obliged to meet our charitable objects and other adult groups can only participate through our fund-raising offer - see Charters.

A skerry is a modern design of boat, perfect for introducing new rowers to the river. The boat is designed to:

• allow up to 8 persons to row together with a cox and passenger

• have sufficient additional space for up to 3 passengers (including a coach)

• be a safe boat for as wide a range of conditions as anyone would want to go rowing in

• be as fast and responsive as possible, accepting the need to be safe

• be easy to row and steer

• be robust and easy to maintain

• help continue the ancient tradition of wooden clinker boat construction

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Unlike "fine boat rowing" (that you might see in the Olympics) the skerry enables social interaction between coaches and rowers and between rowers and enables a coach to move between rowers to assist in times of difficulty or when needing to demonstrate techniques.

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There is little doubt that there are few better boats to introduce new rowers to any water environment.

Yes, individuals can row for a few sessions to achieve a British Rowing ‘Learn To Row’ qualification and will receive a certificate to show their achievement.

Yes. Skerries are very stable boats and have been specifically chosen as they are perfect for the River Thames.

We take health and safety very seriously, it is our No.1 priority.

The precautions in place include:

•    We can accommodate any policies you may already in place for your group. All TCR coaches are also familiar with our own safety policy.

•   All rowers and other participants, along with the coaches will wear buoyancy aids provided by TCR when on or near the water.

•    It should be noted that the river can reflect UV rays and that protection from the sun is an important consideration. A hat may not be sufficient as the rays come from below as well as above.

No, being able to swim is obviously a benefit, however it is not essential to TCR. The coach will ask who can swim ahead of the session, so he/she is able to complete the required dynamic risk assessment ahead of each session.

All our coaches are British Rowing qualified, and any coaching assistants will have been assessed as competent by a British Rowing qualified coach against an agreed set of requirements. In addition they have undergone Disclosure and Barring checks, have current first aid certification and have had their references checked by S4S. They have also been trained in Safeguarding.

TCR will be responsible for ensuring that the rowing activity has been properly risk assessed and the correct insurances are in place. Each session will start with a safety briefing which will include water safety and handling of equipment.

TCR is not looking to make a profit, however we have some basic costs to cover to ensure the boats are safe and the right equipment is in place.

A session in a skerry lasts an hour, taking up to ten participants and our TCR coach onto the river. We can often arrange for two skerries to be available, making an informal race possible. The price is £45 per boat for a single/first boat session and £30 per boat for further sessions with the same group in a linked booking. 

We operate from Richmond, Thames Ditton and Reading. Click on the town you want to operate from and you'll be taken to the relevant page with details about the centre. You will need to arrange transport to and from the session.

Please send us an email in line with the guidance on this page, providing a few simple details and indicating the preferred time slots for when you would like to train (if it is available). TCR will then contact our volunteer coaches, check tides (at Richmond), and reserve the boats. Once this is in place we will confirm the session with you and request further details about the participants via a confirmation form.

TCR is able to take 10 participants in each boat, plus the TCR coach (11 in all). At present we have 1 boat at each of Reading and Thames Ditton and can arrange for upto 4 boats at Richmond-upon-Thames. The minimum number of particpants for a skerry is 4.

You can use the Enquiry form here.