Active Thames funding surpasses half a million mark, boosting community engagement along the river

Active Thames, the innovative partnership programme spearheaded by the Port of London Authority (PLA), is excited to announce that it has awarded an additional £131,545 in grants to 22 projects across London, Kent, and Essex, with a projected reach of 3,000 people.

This latest round of funding brings the total to an impressive £560,922, supporting 110 projects and engaging 64 community clubs since the programme’s inception in 2021, as a key part of the PLA’s commitment to the long-term development of the tidal Thames – Thames Vision 2050.

Active Thames is dedicated to promoting physical activity along the tidal Thames and its inland waterways, harnessing the natural benefits of being by the water. The programme aims to open the river to a broader range of users, enhancing the physical and mental well-being of local communities. The funding is primarily directed towards initiatives that encourage participation among individuals who may be less likely to engage in physical activities, such as those with disabilities and long-term health conditions.

"The wellbeing benefits – physical and mental - of being by the water are huge," said Sian Foster, Director of Corporate Affairs at the Port of London Authority.  

"Through Active Thames, more people are accessing those wellbeing benefits and the opportunity to enjoy the tidal Thames, whether that’s through sailing, paddlesports, rowing, or simply walking along the riverbank."

The wide-ranging activities supported by Active Thames funding span the 95 miles of Thames in the PLA’s jurisdiction, inviting participation from all corners of the community. Grants awarded range from £1,700 to £15,000, tailored to the specific needs of each project, demonstrating the programme's commitment to fostering diverse sporting opportunities.

A new activity in this year’s funding is a project of nature walks and paddles, with a focus on birds, bats, wildfowl and trees, which is being run by Phoenix Canoe Club in Northwest London. First time fund recipients include Fund Her Tri, which will run their accessible, safe, and structured open water swimming lessons for women at the Royal Victoria Docks, as well as Medway Sports Team, whose Riverfront Community Fitness and Wellbeing project aims to promote health, fitness, and social cohesion in the local community by delivering fitness sessions along the river as well as monthly kayaking sessions.  

To ensure accessibility to all, Active Thames also funds walking activities. This year, Seaquins Westcliff has received funding towards a walking programme designed to address the unique needs of the Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities in the local area, with a particular focus on girls from the Orthodox Jewish Community.

Summary of all the 2024/2025 Active Thames grant recipients:

Age UK Kent Rivers

A grant of £3,500 will go to Age UK Kent Rivers for the continued support of walking group activity along the Thames Path in Gravesend. This project will deliver two different walking groups. The first is aimed at people from the local area of Northwest Kent, in particular older people and those who might have limited mobility, who want to get out and walk for exercise and social interaction but might need the extra encouragement that a group offers. The second is for adults with learning disabilities and their support workers to explore the landmarks along the Thames Path.

AHOY Centre

A large award of £13,434 will fund the East London Dinghy Instructor Training program run by The AHOY Centre. This project aims to build an inclusive watersports community that echoes the local population. The program is designed to engage students who are passionate about sailing and need support to advance to the next level, helping them gain the necessary skills and qualifications to gain future employment in a sector that is short of instructors. This, in turn, will help develop the workforce within the sector itself.

Brentford Boat Club

Brentford Boat Club will receive a grant of £8,464 to fund six of their young athletes to become fully trained and qualified rowing coaches. The mentorship programme will be delivered over a 10-month period, providing education in all aspects of coaching on the tidal Thames. This project prioritises a high standard of workforce development.

Cake Club

£5,000 will be awarded to Cake Club to fund their weekly Walk and Talk sessions along the Thames Estuary. These activities will be aimed at parents and carers, predominantly women in the perinatal phase, helping them to get active in the local area and supporting them with their mental health and wellbeing at the same time. Some of the funding will also be allocated towards running ‘Cake Club on the Beach’ and ‘Cake Club in the Park’ sessions, which will take their regular parenting support and playgroup sessions outside while incorporating a walk and some ‘sports day style’ activities for under 5s and their parents.  

Curlew Rowing Club

A grant of £5,000 will enable Curlew Rowing Club to expand their access to rowing, particularly in the areas of Newham and Barking and Dagenham. The fund will help target underrepresented communities to break down barriers and make rowing more inclusive. It will subsidise access to taster sessions, enhance their hardship fund, and provide free and discounted spots in their Learn to Row programme, which will in turn double the annual sessions offered.  

Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre

At Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre, £3,500 will assist in the provision of their Disability Watersports Programme for children and young people aged 8-21. The Programme will allow for increased access to a variety of watersports to enhance health and wellbeing, improved confidence and self-esteem, heightened problem-solving ability, and improved resilience as the young people take risks and conquer their fears on the water in a protected and supportive environment. The organisation’s heavily subsidised activities ensure that children and young people in need have access to watersports throughout the year.

Erith Yacht Club

Erith Yacht Club is a volunteer led, not-for-profit organisation that aims to encourage sailing and other water-based activities in an affordable and supportive environment. The Club will receive an award of £3,700 so it can purchase 35 new spray tops and 35 new pairs of spray trousers in various sizes. The acquisition of this kit will help to increase the number of local young people from all backgrounds who participate in sailing by keeping costs down for families.  

Fulham Reach Boat Club

Fulham Reach Boat Club will receive a large grant of £15,000 to support their State School Rowing Programme which is offered in partnership with secondary schools across the boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea. By partnering with local schools, including Alternative Provision schools such as Westside Academy, they aim to reach those from some of the most underrepresented groups who would not ordinarily have access to the river and a sport like rowing. Funding will be allocated to activity provision as well as upskilling their workforce so that they can create a more inclusive environment and culture for SEND young people.

Fund Her Tri UK

£3,870 will support Fund Her Tri UK to run their accessible, safe, and structured open water swimming lessons for women at the Royal Victoria Docks. Their aim is to remove the barriers many women face in accessing water sports, especially those who may never have experienced open water swimming. The funding will go towards hiring qualified and experienced coaches, providing essential open water equipment, and covering the costs associated with the venue and safety measure memberships.

Greenwich UK Parkinson’s Support Group

A grant of £1,760 will pay for the delivery of a water rowing programme at the Olympic Park watersports pontoon for people living with Parkinson’s and their care partners, with the aim of reaching 20 people. This will include the management of health and safety, use of boats and equipment, and specialist coaching.

Isle of Dogs Sea Cadet Unit

£4,500 will be awarded to the Isle of Dogs Sea Cadet Unit to fund their Cadet Legacy Programme. They will build and continue to fund a legacy programme to help Cadets who want to instruct in both RYA windsurfing and RYA sailing. The funding will pay the wages of the young legacy coaches to teach the new Cadets and will deliver up to 300 hours of tuition from the legacy coaches to the Cadets from the Unit. This will reach up to 40 Cadets in the projected period. It will also fund external training for Cadets such as RYA courses and regional Class Association Training.

Islington Boat Club

An award of £7,460 will fund the Paddle Angel project run through Islington Boat Club. This project will offer fully subsided coached watersports sessions for vulnerable people in Islington. The main target group suffer from mental health challenges, poverty, and addiction, and will be identified by a partner organisation, Better Lives. The project has four strands: skill-building paddleboard sessions for vulnerable groups, free paddleboarding sessions fostering a strong cohort built on community inclusion, litter picking excursions, and improving equipment.

Leaside Trust

Leaside Trust will receive a grant of £5,000, enabling them to start a long-term project providing children, young people, families, and adults with physical disabilities access to paddlesports. The programme will offer 15 Group Paddling Sessions for children and young people with SEND needs, up to 15 Introductory Sessions for individuals needing a slower-paced and tailored introduction, and a Family Fun Day Event, offering public and accessible taster sessions where children, young people, and adults with disabilities can join their families for shared activities.

Medway Sports Team

£5,000 will fund Medway Sports Team’s Riverfront Community Fitness and Wellbeing project. The project aims to promote health, fitness, and social cohesion among the diverse Medway community by delivering fitness sessions along the river as well as monthly kayaking sessions. The funding will be allocated to coaching fees, qualifications for assistant coaches, kayaking sessions, and providing essential equipment.

Phoenix Canoe Club

A large fund of £10,083 will be allocated to Phoenix Canoe Club to run a series of community group taster sessions for sailing or kayaking, followed by a training course to allow individuals from those taster sessions to train for a National Governing Body award. It will also provide three types of community group nature walks and paddles, including for birds/wildfowl, trees, and bats, and will engage experts from the Welsh Harp Conservation Group to give guided tours. Finally, they will provide litter picks along the river.

Re-Instate

Re-Instate is a charity working to improve employment opportunities, quality of life, and well-being for disadvantaged people in the London Borough of Bexley, including people experiencing mental ill-health, people with learning disabilities, autistic adults, and young people. They will be awarded £5,000 to support their Living Active programme, which is a walking and educational project using walks as a starting point to create an arts project tracking the Thames Path through the seasons. This will culminate in an exhibition held at Re-Instate Community Hub in Autumn 2025, and will include photographs, paintings, drawings, collages, and poetry.

Restorative Justice for All

£5,000 will fund the Sailing 2 Cohesion project at Restorative Justice for All. This project will combine sailing, walking, and cycling activities. The grant will cover activity provision, direct project delivery costs, workforce training sessions, and the production of a short video demonstrating the impact of the project and including testimonies from beneficiaries.

Seaquins Westcliff

An award of £4,950 will support Seaquins Westcliff in delivering a walking programme designed to address the unique needs of the Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities in Westcliff, with a particular focus on girls from the Orthodox Jewish Community. The weekly walking groups will tailor all activities to the specific needs and preferences of the community while exploring various waterways in Essex. The project aims to promote physical and mental health, facilitate community integration, challenge stereotypes, and empower the local communities.

Team KEANE Sculling School

A grant of £6,440 will be awarded to Team Keane Sculling School to deliver their 10-week Multifaith project. The programme will offer three core activities around workshops and watersports. These will include rowing sessions, canoe sessions, boat-building workshops, and team-building and cultural awareness workshops. Some sessions will be delivered at different places of worship, with activities aimed at promoting cultural exploration. The programme is aimed at reaching children and young people from communities experiencing some of the highest levels of deprivation in London to increase accessibility and inclusivity in watersports.

The Line

£5,000 will enhance training and skills for The Line’s Youth Guides. The Youth Guides programme seeks to diversify the cultural workforce and offer a first professional experience for young people in East London. Many Youth Guides have grown up facing structural inequalities and through the programme have built their confidence, public speaking and leadership skills, and increased their employability. The grant will help fund the training and employment of the Youth Guides as well as enable sustained links with local youth organisations. The project will culminate in a team building activity, combining art and nature to foster greater cohesion between the Youth Guides and strengthening their connection to and understanding of the waterways.

West Reservoir Sports Centre

The West Reservoir Sport Centre will receive a grant of £4,884 to support their Local Youth Access Improvement Project. The award will go towards a programme of activities to help engage local young people, especially those who might not normally find the centre accessible, to take part in sessions at West Reservoir. The project will deliver school taster sessions, a watersports Open Day, beginner kayaking and sailing courses, and 16 annual memberships to their Youth Club.

Westminster Boating Base

An award of £5,000 will fund Westminster Boating Base to engage with schools in their local area. Through this programme, they will provide training on public speaking to young instructors who will then deliver presentations on kayaking and sailing at school assemblies. They will also run taster days for groups from the schools and cover the cost of the Youth Membership for three months for the participants deemed most likely to benefit from it.