Every May, families flock to Gloucester Docks to cheer on the Dragon Boats racing along the River Severn with as many as 30 teams rowing to raise money for local charities, including the event's headline charity partner, Young Gloucestershire.
With this year's event fast approaching on Sunday 18 May 2025, SoGlos speaks to Simon Owen of the Rotary Club of Gloucester Severn, which organises the Gloucester Dragon Boat Festival, about why corporate fundraising is so important to the event, how local businesses can get involved and why supporting Young Gloucestershire is a 'no-brainer'.
Can you share some of the history behind the Gloucester Dragon Boat Festival and how the event has evolved over the years?
Around 1997-98, CLIC was approached by a PR company. They had set up a 'Dragon Boats Day' in Gloucester Docks in conjunction with Gable Events and were looking for a local charity to become involved.
CLIC readily agreed and the first Dragon Boat Regatta, featuring eight or so teams, duly took place that May. The charity quickly saw the potential of the event and realised they could do it themselves... so they did!
Over the next 22 years, the number of teams involved gradually grew, reaching a regular level of 30 to 32 teams per year; entertainment was developed, from stalls and games, to live bands on stage and Danter’s Funfair; and as the event became a regular in Gloucester, the number of spectators grew.
However, about 12 years into the regatta in 2010, a rift between CLIC (now CLIC Sargent) and the CLIC Gloucestershire Committee resulted in the Dragon Boat Regatta willingly being taken over entirely by our Rotary Club, who have organised it right up to the present day.
Up to 2020, we estimate that the event raised more than £400,000 for charity, primarily for CLIC/CLIC Sargent, but also for many others both at home and abroad.
Why has the Rotary Club of Gloucester Severn chosen to support Young Gloucestershire as one of its beneficiaries for the past three years?
Supporting Young Gloucestershire is a no-brainer for our Rotary Club. Why? Because it’s all about helping young people who’ve had a tough start in life get back on their feet. And as a club that believes in making a real difference, that’s exactly what we should be doing.
YG works with young people facing all sorts of challenges — mental health struggles, trouble at home, unemployment — you name it. They give them the tools to turn things around, whether that’s through training, mentoring or just having someone in their corner. It’s not about handouts; it’s about giving them the confidence and skills to move forward.
By supporting YG, we’re helping to build a stronger community. When young people get the support they need, they’re more likely to find jobs, get qualifications or even give back themselves. That’s a win for everyone.
And let’s not forget, Rotary has always been about developing young people. We do leadership programmes, mentoring and plenty more. So, backing YG isn’t just a good idea — it’s a perfect match for what we’re all about.
Plus, who knows? Some of these young people might just be the next generation of Rotarians. Supporting them now could mean they’re the ones helping others down the line.
So really, it’s simple –— we back Young Gloucestershire because it’s the right thing to do and because helping young people thrive helps all of us.
How does the event raise funds to support Young Gloucestershire?
All the teams entering pay a race fee and once our costs are covered, all surplus is spilt between YG and our other local Rotary supported charities.
How important is corporate fundraising to the event and its charitable causes — and how can local businesses get involved?
Corporate fundraising is a vital part of this event, not only in terms of financial support for our charitable causes but also in fostering a strong sense of community and collaboration. We specifically organise the event as a team building opportunity for local businesses, allowing them to engage in a fun, competitive and rewarding experience outside the workplace.
Participation aligns well with many companies’ CSR policies, offering them a meaningful way to contribute to causes that directly impact the local community.
It also provides an excellent platform for staff engagement, helping employees connect with their colleagues, network with other local businesses and feel a deeper sense of purpose by supporting charity work in a hands-on way.
Local businesses can get involved in a variety of ways, from entering teams to take part in the event to additional sponsorship to increase their exposure. There are also opportunities for brand exposure through event sponsorship, promotional materials and media coverage, ensuring businesses receive well-deserved recognition for their support.
Whether through direct participation or financial contributions, every business can play a role in making a real difference.
To register your team, request a booking form by emailing us at info@rotarydragonboats.org.
What can we expect from this year's event?
The races are held in the Docks Basin. Each race, for those that know Gloucester Docks, starts beneath the swing bridge on Llanthony Road and finishes more or less level with Greek at the Docks at Merchants Quay.
The course is roughly 300 metres long. Each race consists of two or three teams racing against each other and each team will race three times.
In the heats, it's the times that count, not who wins. The best two times of each team will be recorded and the top six teams will then compete against each other in two semi-finals.
From the two semi-finals, the winning crews and the fastest loser will proceed to the final. The winner of the final gets the much-coveted Gloucester Dragonboat Shield, to be held for a year. In addition, there will be trophies presented to the Best Dressed Team and the Best Mixed (ie male and female) Team.
Entertaining commentary from the organisers keeps everyone up to date with who’s winning and their race times.
There is also entertainment for the little ones in the form of a few funfair rides!
