24-Hour Row the Atlantic Challenge Unites Community at City College Plymouth

City College Plymouth successfully hosted and participated in an ambitious 24-hour Row the Atlantic Challenge for charity in partnership with the Plymouth Army Careers Centre and a wide range of community partners. 

Taking place at the College’s Kings Road campus on Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 November, the event challenged participants to collectively row 3,320 kilometres – the equivalent of the distance across the Atlantic from Newfoundland to Ireland – in support of Dartmoor Zoological Society and Veterans Coastal Retreats. 

With 25 rowing machines operating simultaneously, dozens of people from a diverse range of organisations, ages and backgrounds took part in the challenge, all contributing to the shared goal of raising funds and bringing the community together.  

The event welcomed representatives from Plymouth Argyle Community Trust, Plymouth Albion, Taurus Events, Sphere Solutions, YMCA Discovery College, students from Camborne, Duchy, Weston and Bicton Colleges, MPCT, the British Army, Army Cadets, Royal Marines, and Blind Veterans UK. 

Speaking about the challenge, Liam Stevens – Curriculum Lead & Development Officer at the College said: “This event has been a fantastic showcase of teamwork, determination, and the strong community spirit that exists across Plymouth and the wider region. Bringing together so many organisations to work towards a single goal – while supporting two wonderful charities – has been incredibly inspiring.” 

Jim Thisby, Lead Recruiter for the Army, said: “This was an awesome event. It was great to see so many people supporting each other, with everyone working hard to achieve the mission. Most participants rowed for up to one hour to cover ten kilometres – definitely a challenge! It’s another great example of the Army working together with City College Plymouth.”

The combined efforts of participants meant they rowed a total of 3,780 kilometres, surpassing the original distance goal by an astonishing 460 kilometres and raising a final total of £1,818 for the Dartmoor Zoological Society and Veterans Coastal Retreats.

The challenge also supported the College’s mission to strengthen relationships across the education sector and local community, breaking down barriers and encouraging people of all fitness levels to take part. 

• City College Plymouth holds the prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize for leading the way in marine and maritime skills, and AoC Beacon Award for Digital Innovation.

• City College Plymouth was awarded ‘Best Place to Work’ at the Tech South West Awards in November 2025

• City College Plymouth achieved a Gold Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) rating for its higher education provision in September 2023

• City College Plymouth is the South West’s first Google for Education Reference College. This recognition, announced in March 2022, is testament to the College’s commitment to digital skills and incorporating this into all curriculum areas where suitable. 

• 94% of City College Plymouth higher education students agreed that the teaching on their course had ‘challenged them to achieve their best work’ (source: National Student Survey 2024).

• Ofsted rated the College as ‘good’ in its 2024 inspection visit (source: Ofsted Inspection Report 2024).