The Boats Not Bars program offers serving prisoners the opportunity to experience the benefits of taking part in a group coached rowing program, initially indoors, and then outdoors on release. Past courses have shown improvements in wellbeing, in optimism about the future, and decreases in anxiety and depression. The program develops key soft skills, as well as direct employability opportunities through qualifications and links with employers. 

A 2025 report on the state of prison healthcare states that: “Most women in prison and under the supervision of probation have experienced trauma at some point in their lives, including 2 in 3 identified as victims of domestic abuse and over half experiencing emotional, physical or sexual abuse as a child. This can be associated with a complex and cyclical pathway of poor mental health and substance use, both of which are more prevalent in women than men in prison and significantly higher than the general female population.”

We want to help all women leaving prison to get back on their feet. Through the medium of the rowing course and accompanying wellbeing sessions, we provide the environment and stimulus for participants to build a support network in each other, and to develop a sense of hope, agency and empowerment.

On release, we follow up with all participants in order to continue the journey, providing a safe and welcoming community at FRBC, as well as provide links to employers, to other training pathways, and to other support services such as housing.

Your donation will help us continue to collaborate with the gym teams and evolve our women’s specific ‘Rowing for Wellbeing’ course to reach more women inside, most of whom would never have previously had such an opportunity to be involved in this form of physical exercise and tap into its mental and physical benefits.