“ It was relaxing , quiet , and I felt safe in the boat with my brother .”
A highlight of the event was the bell boat competition , which saw 60 teams compete over the weekend . The format supported families with children who have learning difficulties and individuals from different economic and ethnic backgrounds to join in .
Over 150 participants braved the weather on Sunday at the Andrew Simpson Centre in Bartley Green Reservoir to try a variety of activities . These included sit-on-top kayaking , bell boating , sailing , powerboating , and rowing , with ergo challenges .
“ It was a new experience , and I enjoyed being able to join together alongside my peers to take part in a group activity .” – Participant .
Throughout the weekend , participants had the chance to meet and engage with several inspiring athletes , including Paralympians Emma Wiggs and Rob Oliver , Olympic rowing medallist Esme Booth , and former Olympian and World Champion Steve Train . Aspiring Olympians George Bell ( canoe sprint ) and Alfie Noel ( sailing ) also joined , offering further inspiration and motivation to attendees .
Looking ahead in 2025 , and building on the past two years ’ success , the initiative will continue to strengthen its partnerships with local organisations and support the community clubs to
enhance their paddlesport offerings . With plans to further increase access and provide even more opportunities for young people to get involved , the project remains dedicated to creating lasting , positive change in Birmingham ’ s communities through the power of paddlesports .
You can read the full 2024 report here : The Birmingham Community Paddle Sports Project 2024
If you are a club , group , or organisation that engages with underserved communities and would like to explore how to add paddlesports to your delivery , reach out to Paddle UK ’ s Recreational Programmes Lead , Gregory van Heerden , at gregory . vanheerden @ paddleuk . org . uk
Want to feature this year ?
Thank you to everyone who has shared their stories with us this year for our Paddler Spotlight . Your inspiring initiatives have highlighted the power of paddlesport to bring people together , promote well-being , and positively impact communities .
We ’ d love to hear about your experiences and the initiatives happening in your community . If you ’ ve got a story to share , fill out our form at https :// paddleuk . org . uk / share-your-stories-forthe-paddler-spotlight / or get in touch with us at mediaenquiries @ paddleuk . org . uk paddleuk . org . uk