Active Thames 2024: A Year of Record-Breaking Impact on the Waterways

Active Thames, the partnership programme led by the Port of London Authority (PLA), has published its 2024 Impact Report, celebrating a year supporting thousands of people to become more active on or along the tidal River Thames. of unprecedented engagement, workforce growth, and community transformation along the tidal Thames and inland waterways across London, Kent, and Essex.

Launched in 2021 as part of Thames Vision, Active Thames supports grassroots organisations to increase physical activity and make blue spaces more accessible to all communities. In 2024, the programme awarded grants totalling almost £194,000 to 36 projects, reaching more than 3,800 people — half of whom were under 25 and over 2,000 from minority ethnic backgrounds.

Highlights from the 2024 Impact Report include:

• 158 coaches trained and upskilled, helping tackle workforce shortages in watersports.
• 1,245 sessions delivered, offering activities ranging from rowing and sailing to inclusive paddlesports and walking programmes.
• Strong outreach to underrepresented groups: 982 participants with disabilities or long-term health conditions benefitted from projects.
• Significant increase in female participation  
• Dedicated initiatives for SEND families, young refugees, and low-income communities.

Active Thames’ 2024 success was bolstered by additional support from Tideway, the organisation behind London’s new ‘super sewer’, which is now operational and protecting the Thames from sewage pollution. The company has had a long-standing programme of community investment as part of its mission to reconnect Londoners with the Thames.

Robin Mortimer, Chief Executive of the Port of London Authority, said: “It is inspiring to see Active Thames deliver such widespread social impact, helping people from every background experience the physical, mental, and social benefits of engaging with our river and waterways,”  

“Through collaboration with partners and the extraordinary efforts of volunteers and coaches, we are helping to build healthier, more connected communities.”

Examples of the projects supported include:

• Fulham Reach Boat Club introduced coastal rowing to new audiences.
• Laburnum Boat Club provided paid work experience for young people and expanded paddlesport access.
• Tower Hamlets Canoe Club offered adapted sessions for visually impaired paddlers.
• Poplar HARCA's Oar & Explore Club empowered local women to take to the water for the first time.

Investment in workforce development also shone through, with nearly half of the funded projects supporting new coach training and skills development — ensuring a sustainable legacy for watersports in the region.

Looking ahead, the Active Thames programme continues to grow its ambitions, investing in environmental stewardship, workforce diversity, and digital innovation to make the tidal Thames an active, inclusive, and thriving blue space for all.

View the full Active Thames 2024 Impact Report here