Active Thames funding to fuel Southend clubs’ use of ‘blue space’

Active Thames has awarded £20,000 to Southend Association of Voluntary Services (SAVS) to support subsidised activity sessions across six different sports and provide coach development for several clubs and voluntary organisations, which will culminate in Active Southend-on-Thames event days, where members of the public can try a new activity under the guidance of experienced instructors.

Led by the Port of London Authority (PLA), Active Thames is a partnership programme promoting physical activity on the tidal Thames and nearby inland waterways. The £20,000 grant that SAVS has won is the largest of the 2023/24 fund of £150,000, awarded to 23 successful projects this year, and is part of the total to £390,000 of Active Thames funding across 50 community clubs to date.

SAVS, with the support of Active Essex, hosted a workshop for several clubs in Southend and applied for the funding together. They will work together to raise the profile of the benefits of blue space, and benefit as many people as possible.

Jamie Langstone, Sector & Partnership Manager at SAVS, said;

“We are very excited to be working with a range of incredible partners as a consortium to bring Active Southend-on-Thames to life in 2024. Being situated along the Estuary, we have a rich offer of waterfront activities that are an important part of our physical activity offer.

“With the funding kindly provided by Active Thames, we are looking forward to bringing these activities to more people through subsidised activity sessions, dedicated training and more.”

The Active Thames funding covers a wide range of activities including sailing, paddlesports, rowing and walking. It also spans a significant geographical reach, from West London to Southend-on-Sea. encouraging activities for all on the Thames and nearby inland waterways.

Like our better-known green spaces, the 95 miles of “blue” space offered by the tidal Thames can be a place for sport and relaxation, benefitting people’s physical and mental wellbeing. Active Thames helps communities make the most of this blue space, opening the river to a more diverse range of river users. Most of the funding is directed towards projects engaging people who are less likely to be active, including people with disabilities and long-term health conditions.

PLA Sports Manager, Jenny Cooper-Low, said:

“We’re really excited to support so many ambitious community projects this year, creating a more inclusive and accessible Thames, which is a core commitment of our Thames Vision 2050 strategy.

“On a day famous for the ‘January blues’, I’d encourage people to check out their local community club and enjoy the all-round physical, social and mental health benefits of being active in blue space. Check out our website for inspiration.”

To find out more about Active Thames in general, please visit our website.