Westminster House Youth Club

The six-week school summer break is a challenging time for many families. The loss of structure and support heightens everyday struggles and for some young people the reality is weeks of isolation, inactivity, anxiety and even daily hunger.

Each year Lee Valley Regional Park Authority’s Community Access Fund supports young people through this tricky time. In the summer of 2025 we delivered more than 30 impactful initiatives for charities and organisations across London, Essex and Hertfordshire.

This included welcoming back Westminster House Youth Club, a charity based in south east London which supports young people who are amongst the most deprived and disadvantaged in the country.

Westminster House Youth Club are no strangers to our world class sports venues, having utilised our Community Access Fund over the years to provide free or heavily subsidised activities for its members including white water rafting, paddleboarding, raft building, ice skating, cycling and BMX. And, when they’re not taking part themselves, young people from the Youth Club have been inspired by watching the world’s best compete in the very same venues, with complimentary tickets to major international sporting events at Lee Valley White Water Centre and Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre.

This summer saw a group of over 50 children take to the ice at our new £30 million twin-pad Lee Valley Ice Centre and a group of nine tackle twists and turns of the Olympic Standard Competition Course with white water rafting at Lee Valley White Water Centre.

For Katie Worthington, Director at Westminster House Youth Club, the joy of coming back to Lee Valley’s sports venues each year lies in its familiarity, “It’s easy for us, when you’re arriving with vans full of children it’s so reassuring to know exactly where we can park and eat lunch with a large group. The staff across Lee Valley are very aware of our needs and make it such an easy process.”

Familiarity is also key for some of the young people, who have been able to enjoy repeat visits and build on their skills and confidence each time. “It’s great to see them progress”, said Katie, adding, “some of the children who took part in the white water rafting activity summer have been with us for a number of years with some now old enough to take on the role of a young volunteer. They’re paid a small amount to come and help each day and in return get to take part in these incredible activities which would otherwise be out of reach.”

For many children at the Youth Club Lee Valley’s Community Access Fund is providing unforgettable first time experiences and in almost all cases it’s activities that the children wouldn’t otherwise have the means or opportunity to do. For Katie it’s key that the children are exposed to different lifestyles, “It is really important for them to see that other families do this type of activity as either a regular thing or a treat. It helps to open up conversations about access and raise aspirations in terms of careers and earning potential for those who would like to have a lifestyle that includes costly sports.”

Katie added, “as well as communicating with each other and speaking to people at the venue from very different walks of life, these activities are helpful in developing confidence and a sense of inclusion. The group included looked after young people and young people with a history of fixed term exclusions, being trusted to take part in these types of activities certainly has an impact in terms of them feeling less marginalised.”

This summer Lee Valley White Water Centre was delighted to see Youth Club member and volunteer Joshua Haynes back on the rapids. Joshua wasn’t just helping out at Westminster House’s funded rafting experience, he was getting in some training for his imminent trip to Columbia as part of the Venari Partners Challenge. Joshua has been on quite the journey since his first rafting experience at Lee Valley three years ago, it left such an impression that he trained to become a lifeguard. In November Joshua will complete a 100km trek, hiking and rafting through untouched rainforest in Columbia to raise funds for the Youth Club. Katie noted, “Joshua was nominated by the Youth Club but he would never have allowed us to put his name forward if he had not previously tried out rafting in a funded session at Lee Valley White Water Centre – so it’s really opened doors.”

Reflecting on his forthcoming challenge Joshua said, “I have benefited significantly from Westminster House Youth Club. With young people in my area facing numerous challenges, the staff there have helped me to emerge as a role model for others helping me to grow in confidence and exposing me to many great opportunities.

“Having been a volunteer youth leader and currently working towards a Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award through Westminster House, I’d love to be able to give something back by fundraising for them.”

If you’re able to support Joshua in this fantastic feat and help raise funds for Westminster House Youth Club please visit his Just Giving page.