WHAT's ON IN GODALMING?
GODALMING IN BLOOM
Read the results and look at the pictures from the prize-giving evening on 12th July - click on the box opposite... and would you like to join the team in 2025 - see our page for details.
GO-Godalming YOUTH Canoe Club
The club was formed sixteen years ago following bad press of a few youths getting all youths tarred with the same brush!
We operate on a shoestring, from the Barn on the Wharf between Homebase and Sainsburys. The club runs on a Thursday evening, the first week after the clocks go forward to the last Thursday in September. We start about 17:15 and run until 19:30 or when dusk draws in.
All members of the committee are CRB checked and instructors are B.C.U. (British Canoe Union) Qualified
We encourage the young people to work toward a B.C.U. Award. We can also offer those students participating in the Duke of Edinburgh award their physical activity and expedition section qualification.
Trips are organised and run at weekends to other rivers and we also run canoe camping trips to other rivers as well. We have been involved with the Godalming Town Staycation event running, try sessions and canoe courses during the summer holidays along with assisting other groups who wish to bring their clients along to try the sport.
It was agreed parents can take part in the trips as a family, but due to our insurance only covering the young people they would have to sign a disclaimer.
Contact detail for the club is Peter Harris 07505558399 (for mobile & text) or email peter.harris1767@ntlworld.com
The following is a brief history as submitted in August 2019 to be considered for the British Canoeing Impact on Equality and Diversity Club Award.
The club was set up by Peter Harris (as the local Police Constable) and the then Local Youth Worker to get young people off of street corners, as they were receiving bad press in the local newspapers (although it was only a few bad apples that got the whole of them a bad image. Due to the perception of mainly elderly people regarding the Fear of Crime), we intended to show they could do good.
Eight young people on the periphery of the groups of trouble makers were spoken to and encouraged to get involved. With another kayak instructor they were trained up to A British Canoe Union Two Star Award, whilst training these young people their peers started to ask if they could join in, alas we did not have enough equipment for them!
The young would be taking a good will message from the Mayor of Godalming to the Mayor of London (Ken Livingstone), this ended up being to the Worshipful Company of Carpenters who own the Alms Houses in Godalming (Ken Livingstones minion informing us on the Tuesday of the week of the Expedition his dairy was now full, having had 6 months notice and agreeing to meet them by the Thames at the steps of The Palace of Westminster, the finish line had to be moved and with the help of the Port of London Authority we were to Egress at Westminster Pier.
This also the coincided with the 250th anniversary of the River Wey Navigation
The group were seen off from Godalming Wharf by the then Town Mayor Andy Rayner with a message of goodwill to be presented the the Worshipful Company of Carpenters at the end.
The group paddled the Length of the River Wey from Godalming to the River Thames the up river to the Guides Water Activity Centre at Chertsey on the Saturday camping overnight there. On the Sunday they Paddled down to Westminster
One of the members of Worshipful Company of Carpenters set up a drinks and Ice cream station for the group at Molesey Lock rollers, from his Edwardian Launch.
Having arrived at Westminster Pier to be met by the Carpenters and hand over the message of Goodwill the group were treated to a meal of their choice by the Carpenters. The young people chose Mc Donald’s and Pizza
After the experience the group asked if they could carry on and with the Help of the National Trust River Wey the Canoe Club was born
Since the clubs existence we have facilitated yearly for about 8 years a group called ‘Skillway’ who teach Young people on the periphery of being excluded from school, they teach the young people to use their hands to produce items. This came about as they made a wood canoe and a paddle each, which their teacher wanted to float test.
We were asked by the Runnymede Youth worker if we could facilitate a group of young adult females. Once on the water with the group and doing the customary raft up and introductions, One young Lady said, did you not get told we are here with our partners the 10 of them were same sex couples.
We have taught the Air Cadets for their D.O.E award canoe camping, a Secondary School use us on their activity week. Those who can not afford to go away for the week are provided with activities during the week one being the kayaking with us
We have been used for team building by a Nursery School.
Godalming Town Council operate a Staycation event during the first full week of August which we have participated in each year since the inception. We run a taster day on the Saturday and a weeks canoe/kayak course from the Monday to Friday.
This Year for the taster day which ran from 09:45 until 16:45 we managed to get 178 people on the water to have a go the age range was from 10 months to 82 years old and we had 17 take part in the course normally it’s the 11 to Teens we have but this year a lady booked her son and Father onto the course! Her father was 78 spoke not a word of English as he was visiting from Japan, so his Grandson had to interpret for me, we finished on the Friday and the gentleman flew back to Japan on the Saturday.