In September the scheme was broadened to include Year 9 and 10 students. Henley Stewards Charitable Trust took a more direct interest. Richard Sinnott left the Wine Trade to work full time as the Project Leader. At this time Warrington Youth Rowing was established as a Charity (no 1176153) and began to operate independently. Culcheth High School joined the scheme replacing one of the schools that had dropped out.

This academic year saw the WYR consolidate the excellent work that Phil Lyons had done the season before. In that first year Phil had operated on his own with some help from fellow HSCT Coach Sue Palmer.

From 2017/18 WYR instigated 2 coaches per water session and this policy has carried on to the present.

A selection process took place to find Year 9 pupils that would take part. All the rowers would be on The Pupil Premium Register. In total, eight secondary schools from the state sector joined the scheme providing enough athletes for a boys and girls quad from each school.

The Schools: Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School, Birchwood Community High School, Cardinal Newman Catholic High School, Bridgewater High School, Penketh High School, Great Sankey High School, Beamont Collegiate Academy, University Academy (to become Padgate High School)

As a Principal, Ben had a direct route into the schools from the top down. This quickly gave the scheme impetus and a timetable was established. The schools deliver their pupils, accompanied by a member of staff, to Warrington Rowing Club for a 2 hour slot. These sessions are during the school day; there is an obvious attraction for the pupils, two hours rowing or double lesson behind a school desk!

In June 2016 Ben Dunne, then Principal at Penketh High School, and Richard Sinnott of Warrington Rowing Club (WRC), came up with a plan. The aim was simple…

To engage with local pupils who would not normally have access to rowing and take them on a sporting journey with the ambition to change their lives.

The plan neatly coincided with initiatives that were being worked up by British Rowing (BR) and Henley Royal Regatta Charitable Trust (HRRCT). These ideas fermented into reality and in September 2016, Phil Lyons began his two years as an HSCT Coach, based at Warrington Rowing Club.

All Aboard Youth Rowing (originally called Warrington Youth Rowing) was founded by Ben Dunne, then Principal at Penketh High School and Richard Sinnott of Warrington Rowing Club in 2016 in the hope that they could engage with local pupils across Warrington giving them access to rowing, taking them on a sporting journey with the ambition to change their lives.

With support from British Rowing (BR) and Henley Regatta Charitable Trust (HRRCT) the WYR dream was turned into a reality. What started as a project involving eight local high schools and one dedicated coach, Phil Lyons, quickly transformed into a scheme involving 35 schools and over 30 coaches across 6 sites in the North West.