Active Thames, led by the Port of London Authority (PLA), has awarded £20,000 in grants to 4 successful applicants in Essex, as part of their £150,000 fund pot. The increase from last year demonstrates the continuing commitment Active Thames partners have made to promoting activity on the tidal Thames and inland waterways in London, Kent, and Essex.
The strong relationship and partnership formed between Active Thames, the Port of London Authority, Active Kent and Active Essex has helped to ensure more opportunities are offered to residents looking to explore activity on and around the waterways. The recipients of this year’s round of funding cover a wide range of activities, including sailing, paddlesports, rowing and, for the first time this year, walking.
Juliette Raison, Active Essex Relationship Manager and Lead on Active Environments, said: “For us in Essex, as part of our Find Your Active campaign, we’re trying to help inspire and motivate residents to find the activity that’s right for them. With Essex being one of the biggest counties holding blue spaces, it’s fantastic to see organisations take up the funding from Active Thames and help provide further opportunities for residents to get moving.”
Blue Therapy Active is a thriving community of people who enjoying being on, in or near the water. Offering paddlesports, swimming, walking, and cycling to the people of Essex, the group continues to expand. To meet the demand, this funding will support the club to engage with more people over the coming year and build on the achievements of last year’s Active Thames grant.
In addition, Lower Thames Rowing Club, based at Old Leigh and Two Tree Island in Essex, has established a strong link with mental health charity Trust Links. This funding will allow them to purchase a new rowing boat, in order to offer more taster sessions.
Sea-Change Sailing Trust also utilised the Active Thames fund to provide a sailing residential for people with disabilities aboard the engineless traditional Thames barge the Blue Mermaid. The funding will also enable them to train up 6 new recruits, helping to secure the future of Thames sailing barges.
The Active Thames fund has ensured residents from many cohorts of communities across Essex will be impacted. Such as, Writtle University College who will now be able to offer stand-up paddleboarding to their community of students, local schools, youth groups and disability groups. Having already invested in a jetty for the on-campus reservoir, new equipment will help launch the reservoir as a new space to be active. With strong existing links to charities such as Chelmsford Disability Club, Writtle are looking forward to making a conscious effort to run multiple inclusive sessions, as well as events, open days and work experience opportunities.
To find out more about the PLA’s partnership programme, please visit Active Thames.
