Toyota GB Community Fund Award for Boat Club

Last week, Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s adaptive squad were fortunate to be awarded a substantial grant from the Toyota GB Community Fund. The Toyota Community Fund is a programme of small grants designed to help local charities, clubs and community projects: since its inception in 2011, Toyota GB have supported over 650 projects and provided over £1,100,000. This investment has helped set up and enriched multiple organisations and has supported social focussed projects aimed to benefit health and wellbeing and has also been of benefit those needing increased mobility allowing those with physical impairments to better engage with their environment and aspirations

Commenting, Mark Dewdney, Stratford Boat Club’s Head Adaptive Coach, said, “The award has come at a crucial time for Stratford Boat Club and the adaptive squad. Because of our expansion over the years enabling us to offer rowing to a wider cohort of disabled athletes, we need more specialised equipment and training if members are to attain greater skills and inclusivity. Some immediate expenditure will be made of two sets of specially engineered blades (oars) for the athletes and training courses tailored to their needs”

At the presentation, Paul Stanton, President of Stratford upon Avon Club said, “We are massively indebted to Toyota GB: the award has come about because of our close relationship with Listers Toyota Stratford and their involvement with the Club and especially the adaptive section. This fits well with Toyota GB’s sponsorship and involvement with the Paralympics and adaptive sport: our thanks to Richard Burt, Centre Principal for Listers Toyota Stratford and Joseph Hawkins, Marketing Manager for Listers Group Ltd for introducing the Club to Toyota GB and supporting our application. The relationship goes from strength to strength!”

For media coverage, please see Stratford Observer online https://www.stratfordobserver.co.uk/news/stratford-boat-club-awarded-grant-from-toyota-gb-community-fund and Stratford Herald page fifty nine and https://www.stratford-herald.com/sport/grant-comes-at-crucial-time-for-growing-adaptive-squad-9277097

Stratford’s Adaptives sponsored by Listers Toyota!

Following on from the 2020 Paralympic Games run in Tokyo in 2021 when Toyota worldwide sponsored the Paralympic Games, local Stratford company Listers Toyota have come to the aid of Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s ever growing adaptive section with sponsorship for 2022

Listers Toyota Stratford is the official Toyota dealer for Stratford upon Avon and offers a wide range of new and used Toyota vehicles and also can provide small business and fleet services as well as servicing and parts and is situated in Stratford upon Avon town centre, just off the Birmingham Road, near the Maybird Shopping Park.

Listers Group Limited also has their head office at the Stratford Business and Technology Park: founded in 1979 when the company opened their first business in Coventry, the focus has always been to put the customer first. Over forty years later, this focus has helped the business grow to over fifty dealerships and service centres across England, becoming one of the largest family-owned automotive businesses in the UK, representing eighteen of the most-recognised and prestigious brands.

Said Paul Stanton, Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s President, “Being associated with caring local successful businesses in the area is very important to the Club as we share their commitment to the area’s prosperity and wellbeing. Listers Toyota Stratford’s sponsorship of the adaptive section for the year is much appreciated and helps us to offer sport and recreation to a wider spectrum of adaptive athletes.”

Commenting, Mark Dewdney, Stratford’s Adaptive Head Coach, said, “We first came in contact with Listers Toyota Stratford through Toyota worldwide sponsorship of the recent Paralympic Games and then during the adaptive section’s celebration having won Parasport ‘Club of the Year’. Listers Toyota Stratford’s sponsorship has gone towards equipment for the adaptive section and the whole Club funding recent much needed equipment such as a stable two person multipurpose boat (double); fixed seats which allow those with paraplegia or with severe low limb impairment to row; narrow riggers which allow those with lower limb impairment to propel the boat more effectively; pair riggers which allow those with one sided and/or dexterity issues to row with a single oar if they cannot use two; a bucket seat which benefits cerebral palsy

© Courtesy of Mark Williamson, Stratford Herald

sufferers and grip aids to assist those lacking dexterity.”

Colin Upchurch, the Club’s Vice President said, “The synergy between the Club and Listers Toyota Stratford has been pivotal for the Club as whole, enabling us to continue to move forward and offer sport for all in the local community. Recently we have used Listers Toyota Stratford’s sponsorship to fund additional racking for our boats and a wheelchair height tap for our athletes to fill their water bottles, essential progress for all. We are most grateful to Richard Burt and Joseph Hawkins at Listers Toyota Stratford for their sponsorship.”

For media coverage see Stratford Herald page fifty two and online https://www.stratford-herald.com/sport/toyota-backing-to-aid-growing-adaptive-squad-9239541 and Stratford Observer https://www.stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/rowing-stratford-upon-avon-boat-club-adaptive-section-sponsored-by-listers-toyota

… AND FINALLY: STRATFORD BOAT CLUB ADAPTIVE SECTION GETS IT’S AWARD!

Thursday was a great day for Stratford upon Avon Boat Club’s adaptive section with the squad finally being awarded their plaque for winning Parasport Club of the Year!

The day was much enhanced by a visit from Ellen Buttrick, Paralympic Rowing Gold Medal winner from Tokyo 2020, and Alice Tai, Paralympic, World, European and Commonwealth Swimming Champion. The two Paralympian athletes jointly presented the Parasport Club of the Year winner’s plaque to the adaptive section

Guests at the presentation also included Barry Lloyd, Parasport Campaign Project Manager for the British Paralympic Association; Richard Burt, Centre Principal, Listers Toyota; Joseph Hawkins, Marketing Manager, Listers Group Ltd; Cllr Kevin Jackson, Mayor of Stratford upon Avon and Jo Atkinson, Community Support Manager, British Rowing. Toyota is the sponsor for the Paralympic Games

As well as the presentation, Ellen Buttrick and Alice Tai took to the water in Stratford Boat Club’s adaptive boats with adaptive athletes and coaches and were shown a typical adaptive session as well as inspecting some of the Club’s specialised adaptive equipment

Mark Dewdney, Stratford Boat Club’s Head Adaptive Coach said, “We are very grateful for this accolade and winning Parasport Club of the Year has been a great morale booster for the adaptive athletes. To have the winner’s plaque presented by such inspirational Paralympian athletes as Ellen and Alice was the crowning glory!”

Commenting, Paul Stanton, President of Stratford upon Avon Boat Club said, “To have our adaptive section recognised with this award and have so many guests see and understand what it takes to get adaptive athletes safely onto the water is a great honour. We look forward to consolidation our co-operation with local companies to make our adaptive section accessible to all disabled athletes where possible”

For media coverage, see Stratford Herald page fifty nine and online at https://www.stratford-herald.com/sport/paralympians-visit-a-crowning-glory-9218428 and also Stratford Observer online at https://stratfordobserver.co.uk/sport/paralympic-champions-present-club-with-top-award