Community to get new garden with KCOM grant
Youngsters will be able to enjoy a new urban garden thanks to a KCOM community grant
Members of Kingston Kayak Club on the water. Youngsters in Hull will get the chance to ride the rapids thanks to a grant from KCOM.
The Kingston Kayak Club (KKC) has been able to buy a junior white water-specification canoe with money from KCOM’s community grant fund.
The new canoe will enable youngsters at the popular club to pursue their spirit of adventure by taking on some outdoor rapids.
Dave Rawding, KKC’s senior coach and outreach worker, said the new equipment would help open amazing opportunities for the club’s young members.
He said: “Having the appropriate equipment that’s safe allows youngsters to enjoy the outdoors and the spirit of adventure that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to.
“It’s great when you see youngsters who have experienced white water canoeing for the first time, they come back absolutely buzzing and it really does push them to achieve things they maybe never thought they were capable of.
“We’re really grateful to KCOM for the money to be able to buy the new canoe. Rising pool costs have meant that we haven’t been able to invest in new equipment as much as we’d have liked to, but this will provide some great opportunities for our younger members.”
The Kingston Kayak Club was founded in 1983 and now boasts 180 members with activities taking place at its Albert Avenue base at least five days a week. As well as hosting general paddle night, slalom sessions and polo practice events at Albert Avenue baths, the volunteer-run club also organises summer schools and family weekends for its members.
It has been voted the best canoe club in the UK twice in the past five years.
KCOM’s community grants are awarded on a quarterly basis to groups and organisations that help improve life in Hull and the East Riding.
Brendon Smurthwaite, KCOM’s community coordinator, said: “We’re delighted that our community grant has been put to such good use by a club that does so many great things to engage young people and broaden their horizons.
“The Kingston Kayak Club is run by a committed team of volunteers who are dedicated to improving lives through sport and we’re happy to help them in any way we can. We hope the club’s young members will now get some real enjoyment out of the new canoe.”
For more details about Kingston Kayak Club and its range of activities visit www.kkc.org.uk. For more details about KCOM’s community grants programme visit www.kcomhome.com/community