Free Olympic sport for young Londoners

Westminster City Council is

offering young people an opportunity to try out Olympic sports for free

this summer. Held at Westminster Boating Base in the heart of the

capital, free taster sessions in sailing, kayaking and canoeing are on

offer to all young Londoners from 25-28 July.

Kayaking,

sailing and canoeing are just some of the river-based sports available,

while young people looking for something away from the water can take

part in cricket, football, dodge ball and table tennis sessions in

Pimlico Gardens. Two kayak simulators are also available for the first

time at the centre to help improve technique out of the water. 

Cllr

Melvyn Caplan, Westminster Council's Cabinet Member for Customer

Services and Transformation, said: "It's fantastic that these young

Londoners have been able to try out these Olympic sports for free at one

of London's top watersports facilities.

"This

programme is an example of how ward budgets can benefit the local

community and residents and in this case provide a platform for our

future Olympic hopefuls."

Young

people from across the capital will be presented with prizes for their

participation in the programme at Westminster Boating Base, 3.30pm,

today (Thursday 28 July).

Westminster

Boating Base is a charitable trust based in Pimlico Gardens and

operating on the River Thames. Established more than 30 years ago the

trust teaches young people and adults to sail, canoe and kayak.  

Westminster

City Council introduced ward budgets as part of its Neighbourhoods

programme in April 2008 to provide each ward £46,000 per year to support

local projects and priorities. This summer sports scheme is supported

by Tachbrook's ward councillors Cllr Nick Evans, Cllr Alan Bradley and

Cllr Angela Harvey.

The

project aims to strengthen neighbourhoods and promote active communities

in keeping with the council's Living City programme.