A new paddling and rowing club has moved into Ferry Wharf in Ferry Quays with a promise to make the sport accessible to the community.

The club is run by Team Keane which describes itself as a community grass roots club offering public access to rowing and paddle sports.

Team Keane uses charitable funding to support community projects, including athlete sponsorship and hardship funding.

Team Keane Committee chairman Ken Creighton told Nub News: "This is a wonderful location for our club, cosily nestled amongst the Ferry Quays and an exciting addition to the development of Brentford as a whole which is undergoing dramatic transformation."

Team Keane spent a lot of time cleaning up the area it occupies.

Mr Creighton said: "We cleared up a lot of evidence of anti-social behaviour and cleared up plastic bottles that had built up at the site."

The organisation subsidises local state school rowing programmes and community projects which "enable us to deliver water-based activities to more of our local community groups".

Lockdown has meant people being restricted to what activities they can do together.

Mr Creighton said rowing and paddling sports provided a real boost to mental health.

"It cannot be over-estimated just how good getting out onto the river is for mental health, especially after so many months of restrictions. The sport provides a real boost to people's mental health," he said.

Team Keane has invited a number of state schools to join its activities and will be contacting more in and around Brentford.

Mr Creighton said: "We want to make our activities accessible to everyone, whatever their background.

"We never turn anyone away and are keen to help disadvantaged young people to get involved.

"Our emphasis is very much on helping the community and being a part of it."

The club caters for children and adults and is run by professional coaches.

More about Team Keane here

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