Active Thames doubles investment in watersports and introduces multi-year funding to boost long-term community impact on the Thames

Active Thames, the community sport and wellbeing programme led by the Port of London Authority (PLA), has awarded over £210,000 to 28 community projects across London, Kent and Essex as the PLA doubles its contribution this year.

Of this, over £110,000 is awarded for delivery this summer, and a further £100,000 marks the start of a major commitment to long-term investment. This will form part of a £300,000 commitment over three years, providing sustained support for key delivery partners.

This new multi-year funding will support Thames-based charities the AHOY Centre, Brentford Community Boat House, Fulham Reach Boat Club, London Youth Rowing and Shadwell Basin Outdoor Activity Centre.

This marks a significant evolution in how the programme funds community activity, recognising that longer-term investment enables clubs to plan with confidence, build capacity and deliver deeper, more sustainable impact in their communities.

Active Thames is dedicated to increasing access to physical activity by and on the water, particularly for people who are less likely to be active – including children and young people, people with disabilities and long term health conditions, those from ethnically diverse communities, and people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Siân Foster, Director of Corporate Affairs at the Port of London Authority, said:

“Over the last five years we have the seen the positive impact Active Thames makes to individuals, clubs and communities, and we’re delighted to announce a significant expansion of the programme.

“This new approach has been shaped by the people we support and was inspired by a young sailor at the AHOY centre, who told us how much they struggled in school but found a sense of belonging and confidence through time on the water. This got us thinking – how can we do more to support organisations delivering lasting change in the communities we serve?

“So, this year we are doubling the PLA’s financial support and making a new commitment to three-year funding agreements. This will help more communities access the river and give organisations the stability to plan and deliver even greater impact.”

This latest round of funding brings the total to over £770,000, supporting 73 organisations since 2021. Active Thames forms part of the PLA’s commitment to the future of the tidal Thames, supporting safe, inclusive access to the water as set out in the long-term plan for the River, Thames Vision 2050.

2025-2026 Active Thames grant recipients:

Action Attainment, Hounslow 
A grant of £6,328.63 will support Action Attainment CIC to deliver their Fun in the Sun with Kayaks and Paddleboards project along the Brentford Canal. The programme will provide a series of small, supported watersports sessions for neurodivergent young people aged 8-25 who are often socially isolated. Delivered in partnership with Active360, the project will offer kayaking and paddleboarding in a calm and inclusive environment, with high staffing ratios and specialist mentoring to reduce anxiety and build confidence. Across nine days of activity, the project aims to engage up to 55 participants, helping them develop skills, independence, and social connections while improving their physical and mental wellbeing.

ATF Southend  
ATF Southend will receive £3,415 to deliver ATF Miles and Smiles, a nine-month walking programme along the Southend seafront and Shoebury Garrison on the Thames Estuary. The project will provide 30 guided, accessible walking sessions for a wide range of participants, including those from ethnically diverse communities, people with long-term health conditions, and individuals experiencing social isolation. In addition to weekly walks, the programme will include monthly café meetups to foster social connection, as well as special trips such as a walk along Southend Pier and a guided heritage tour of the Mulberry Harbour site. The project aims to engage 40-60 individuals, improving physical health, mental wellbeing, and community cohesion through regular, inclusive activity by the water.

Coach Core, Lewisham 
A grant of £5,000 will support Coach Core Foundation to deliver its Coaching Apprenticeship Programme in partnership with the Ahoy Centre on the River Thames. The funding will enable one young person facing multiple barriers to employment to undertake a paid apprenticeship, gaining a recognised Level 2 coaching qualification alongside essential skills in communication, leadership, and personal development. Through tailored mentoring and wraparound support, the programme will help the apprentice build confidence and transition into sustained employment. In addition, the apprentice will contribute to over 1,000 community coaching sessions, supporting thousands of people to become more active while acting as a relatable role model within their community.

Erith Yacht Club, Bexley 
Erith Yacht Club will receive £3,706 to support its Sail More in 2026 project on the tidal Thames in north-west Kent. The funding will be used to purchase new mainsails for the club’s training dinghy fleet, ensuring safe and accessible sailing opportunities for new participants. The project focuses on increasing participation amongst women, and engaging people from lower socio-economic backgrounds through providing access to shared club boats – reducing the need for boat ownership. The club aims to deliver at least 24 sessions for around 200 participants, helping to build confidence, skills, and long-term engagement in sailing while supporting physical health and social connection.

GET OUT, Hackney 
A grant of £4,625 will support GET OUT to deliver its River Club programme on the River Lea at the Leaside Centre. The project will provide monthly stand-up paddleboarding sessions for young people aged 10-16 from underserved communities in Tower Hamlets and Hackney, many of whom have limited access to blue and green spaces. Across seven sessions, around 100 participants will develop paddling skills, confidence, and a connection to the river, supported by qualified instructors and trained mentors. The programme also includes environmental activities and a youth-led film project, helping participants build a sense of ownership and pride in their local waterways while improving their wellbeing and fostering longer-term engagement with outdoor activity.

Grangewaters Outdoor Education Centre, Thurrock 
A grant of £7,980 will support Grangewaters Outdoor Education Centre to deliver its Wavemakers programme in Thurrock. Running across 22 weekends from spring to summer, the project will provide 44 paddlesports and sailing sessions for children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly those in receipt of free school meals. Alongside this, there is a dedicated training pathway for young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), offering accredited paddlesport qualifications, first aid training, and mentoring opportunities. Participants will progress into peer leadership roles, supporting delivery and gaining valuable work experience, with the potential to move into paid employment within the sector. The project aims to engage over 200 participants, improving physical and mental wellbeing while creating clear pathways into the watersports workforce. 

Greenwich UK Parkinson’s Support Group 
Greenwich UK Parkinson’s Support Group will receive £3,865 to expand its Rock ‘n’ Row programme across the Royal Docks and River Lea. The project will deliver a series of indoor rowing and on-water sessions for people living with Parkinson’s and their care partners, providing a safe and supportive environment to stay active. Working with specialist coaches and partner organisations, the programme will offer 20 sessions reaching around 35 participants. The project aims to improve strength, mobility, and confidence, while supporting the management of Parkinson’s symptoms and reducing social isolation. Participants will also benefit from a strong peer support network, helping to build community and improve overall wellbeing through regular activity on the water.

Isle of Dogs Sea Cadet Unit, East London 
£4,500 will be awarded to the Isle of Dogs Sea Cadet Unit to deliver its instructor Legacy Programme across East London’s docklands. The project will train and support cadets to become qualified instructors in a range of watersports, including sailing, windsurfing, and powerboating. These young leaders will then deliver sessions to other cadets, creating a sustainable model of peer-led activity. The programme is expected to directly support around 30 cadets, while also providing progression opportunities into leadership roles and future employment. By investing in young people from the local community, the project will increase access to affordable watersports while building skills, confidence, and long-term engagement with the river. 

Islington Boat Club 
A grant of £5,340 will support Islington Boat Club to deliver Paddle Angel 2026 on Regent’s Canal. This project will provide supported paddleboarding sessions for people experiencing mental health challenges, including addiction and depression, in partnership with local health and community organisations. Alongside this, participants will take part in regular paddle-led litter-picking sessions, helping to improve the local environment. The programme also includes specialist training for staff to strengthen their ability to support participants with mental health needs. Across more than 30 sessions, the project will engage over 100 people, improving wellbeing, reducing social isolation, and fostering a sense of purpose through activity on the water. 

Laburnum Boat Club, Hackney 
Laburnum Boat Club will receive £6,780 to deliver its Into the Blue programme on Regent’s Canal in Hackney. The project will provide weekly paddlesports and boating sessions for adults and young people experiencing mental health challenges, offering a safe and supportive environment to improve wellbeing and reduce isolation. Alongside activity delivery, the programme will fund accredited coaching qualifications for young people, helping to build a more diverse and skilled workforce within the paddlesports sector. The project will deliver 40 sessions and reach over 60 participants, combining regular access to blue space with clear progression pathways into training, volunteering, and employment.

Lighthouse, Hackney 
An award of £5,000 will support Lighthouse to deliver its Safe on the Water programme for children and young people in Hackney and North London who have experienced domestic abuse and family breakdown. The project will provide weekly, trauma-informed watersports sessions in a safe and supportive environment, helping participants to rebuild confidence, develop new skills, and form positive peer relationships. Delivered with specialist youth workers and therapeutic support, the programme will reach around 40 children, with additional support for mothers where needed. By combining physical activity with emotional support, the project aims to reduce anxiety, improve wellbeing, and create a sense of safety and belonging for participants.

London Sports Trust, Chelsea 
A grant of £5,000 will support London Sports Trust to deliver Everybody’s Tideway at Cremorne Riverside on the River Thames. This project will take a three-pronged approach to improving access, diversity and inclusion in watersports. It will deliver a 12-week kayaking programme specifically for young Muslim women, creating a safe and culturally appropriate space to increase participation among a group facing significant barriers to activity. The project will also fund coaching qualifications for three young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, supporting progression into employment within the sector. In addition, the grant will enable a free summer holiday kayaking programme for young people on free school meals. Altogether, the project will reach over 100 participants, increasing access to blue spaces while building a more diverse future workforce.

Lower Thames Rowing Club, Essex 
Lower Thames Rowing Club will receive £4,370 to deliver More Coaches, More Rowing! along the Thames Estuary at Two Tree Island. The project will fund the delivery of a British Rowing coaching course to train four new coaches, increasing the club’s capacity to meet growing demand and expand community access to rowing. As part of the programme, the club will also deliver rowing sessions for a local Sea Scout group, including young people with additional needs and from low-income backgrounds. By strengthening its coaching workforce, the club will be able to offer more taster and learn-to-row sessions, helping more people experience the physical and mental health benefits of rowing in a supportive, community-led environment.

Medway Watersports Trust, Kent 
An award of £4,994 will support Medway Watersports Trust to upgrade its kayak fleet and expand delivery on the River Medway in Gillingham. Funding will be used to replace outdated equipment with more accessible, modern kayaks suitable for a wider range of participants, ensuring that more people can safely take part in paddlesports. The project will also support the training of an additional paddlesports instructor, strengthening the organisation’s volunteer-led workforce. The improved equipment and expanded capacity will enable the Trust to continue reaching over 800 participants annually, including children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with additional needs, improving access to inclusive watersports opportunities.

Putney Town Rowing Club, Richmond  
Putney Town Rowing Club will receive £5,000 to expand its Learn to Row and development programmes on the Thames. The funding will enable the club to increase its Learn to Row courses from one course per year to three, reaching a wider and more diverse audience, including students from the University of Roehampton and local residents. The project will also support the training of new coaches, helping to sustain and grow the club’s development pathway. By creating more entry points into rowing and strengthening progression opportunities, the programme will support long-term participation, improve fitness and wellbeing, and foster a strong sense of community on the river.

Re-Instate, Bexley 
A grant of £5,000 will support Re-Instate to deliver its Thames Buddies project along the Thames Path in Erith. The programme will provide regular supported walking groups for adults with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health challenges, combining physical activity with environmental learning and social connection. Participants will take part in weekly walks and monthly litter-picking sessions, helping to improve the local environment while building confidence and routine. The project will also include engagement with local river-based industries, offering participants insight into potential employment pathways. Reaching up to 100 individuals, the project aims to improve physical and mental wellbeing, reduce social isolation, and create meaningful connections between participants and their local community.

SAVS, Southend on Thames 
An award of £10,000 will support SAVS to deliver Active Southend-on-Thames, a large-scale, multi-partner programme across the Southend seafront. Building on a successful first year, the project will deliver 65 sessions reaching over 1,300 participants, including kayaking, swimming and water safety, yoga, cold water dipping, and family beach activities. The programme will particularly target underrepresented groups through partnerships with over 400 local charities, ensuring activities are accessible, inclusive, and co-designed with communities. Alongside activity delivery, the project will support the development of a new rowing club through coach training, and it will strengthen the local voluntary sector’s capacity to engage residents with blue space. The programme aims to improve physical and mental wellbeing, increase water confidence, and foster long-term connections with the coastline.

South London Scouts, Richmond 
South London Scouts will receive £2,200 to deliver Putney Paddles on the River Thames at Putney Embankment. The project will provide a series of ten open canoeing sessions for young people aged 13–18 from South London, many of whom have limited access to outdoor and water-based activities. Delivered in partnership with Wandsworth Youth River Club, the sessions will offer subsidised access to paddlesports, enabling up to 100 young people to develop skills in canoeing, teamwork, and water safety. Participants will work towards recognised Paddle UK awards while building confidence, resilience, and a stronger connection to the river. The programme will also support the development of young leaders and volunteer coaches, helping to grow a more diverse paddlesports workforce.

The Pirate Castle, Camden 
A grant of £5,000 will support The Pirate Castle to deliver its Instructor Development Programme on Regent’s Canal in Camden. This project will train a new cohort of 18 volunteer instructors from their youth, adult, and LGBTQ+ paddlesport programmes, equipping them with Paddle UK safety, rescue, and coaching qualifications. Through structured training, mentoring, and assessment, participants will develop skills in leadership, session delivery, and water safety, with clear progression into volunteering and employment. Through building in-house capacity, the project will enable The Pirate Castle to expand its provision of free and low-cost paddlesport sessions for underserved communities. In total, the programme will train up to 24 instructors, strengthening the local workforce while increasing access to inclusive watersports opportunities.

The Sharks, Bexley 
An award of £5,300 will support The Sharks to deliver Activate Thamesmead at Southmere Lake. The project will establish a new, community-led paddlesports offer in an area with limited access to affordable water-based activity, providing up to 100 additional hours of kayaking sessions for families, young people, and local residents. Funding will support the purchase of accessible equipment and the delivery of regular weekend, holiday, and school-based sessions, reaching up to 1,500 participants. The project will also develop local coaches and volunteers, creating pathways into leadership and employment. By building a sustainable, inclusive paddlesports hub, the programme will improve physical and mental wellbeing while strengthening community cohesion. 

West Reservoir Sports Centre, Hackney 
West Reservoir Centre will receive £3,762 to deliver West Reservoir Local Community Access in Hackney. Building on recent site improvements, the project will provide targeted opportunities for local residents from underrepresented backgrounds to engage with blue spaces through sailing, kayaking, open water swimming, and wellbeing walks. The programme will include a six-week youth watersports club, three introductory open water swimming courses for adults, and weekly guided walks, reaching over 300 participants. By working closely with local partners, the project will reduce barriers to participation, improve health and wellbeing, and strengthen community connections in an area facing significant health inequalities.

Women in Tri UK, Newham and Southend-on-Sea 
A grant of £6,240 will support Women in Tri UK to deliver Women’s Open Water Sessions at Royal Victoria Docks and Southend-on-Sea. This women-only programme will provide eight coached open water swimming sessions for beginners, reaching up to 120 women, many from ethnically diverse and low-income backgrounds. The project will remove key barriers to participation by offering low-cost or free sessions, wetsuit hire, and a supportive, confidence-building environment led by female coaches. Alongside improving physical and mental wellbeing, the programme will foster strong peer networks and encourage ongoing participation in sport. The project will also support the development of female coaches and volunteers, helping to build a more inclusive watersports workforce.