Paddle Power: Boosting Youth Mental Health through Kayaking

Supporting Youth Mental Health Through Kayaking

Mental health challenges among young people have risen sharply in recent years. Over the past three years, the likelihood of young people experiencing mental health issues has increased by 50%. According to The Children’s Society Good Childhood Report 2022, children’s happiness has been steadily declining, with the NHS reporting in 2023 that 20% of young people are now facing mental health issues.

At Seren Dŵr, we believe that kayaking and canoeing can play a powerful role in improving mental well-being. That’s why we launched Paddle Power: Boosting Youth Mental Health through Kayaking - a project designed to give young people in Cardiff the chance to try a new activity, boost their confidence, and build meaningful social connections.

What We Delivered

With generous funding from the Greggs Foundation, we ran two "Paddle Power Come and Try It" sessions at Llanishen Swimming Pool in Cardiff. These sessions gave young people aged 8 to 13 the chance to experience kayaking in a safe and supportive environment.

🏅 Session Highlights:

✅ 46 sign-ups – The sessions sold out within two days of opening! ✅ Learning and confidence building – On shore, participants learned about different parts of a kayak and how to hold a paddle. In the water, they practiced manoeuvres, played games, and built confidence. ✅ New friendships – The sessions created a fun, welcoming atmosphere where young people could make new friends and feel part of a community. ✅ Financial support – To remove barriers to participation, we provided four six-month bursary memberships to help young people continue with our junior kayaking club.

Why Kayaking Works

Engaging in physical activity and forming social connections are proven ways to improve mental health. Kayaking and canoeing provide the perfect combination of both, offering young people the chance to: ✔️ Develop new skills ✔️ Build confidence ✔️ Make new friends ✔️ Improve mental and physical health

Our experienced, Paddle-UK qualified coaches and volunteer Junior Coaches create a welcoming, supportive environment where young people feel encouraged to try something new without fear of failure.

Why Seren Dŵr?

We are proud to be one of the most youth-focused kayaking clubs in the UK, with over 40 junior members - a rarity in the kayak and canoe community.

We have a strong track record of success:🏆 Paddle Cymru's Club of the Year 2022🏆 Coach of the Year 2022🏆 Cardiff Life Awards Finalist 2024

Since March 2023, we’ve introduced 40 new paddlers through similar sessions, issued 40 Paddle-UK Start Certificates, and ensured inclusive access to kayaking for disabled paddlers and ethnic minority communities in Cardiff.

Making a Lasting Impact

The impact of Paddle Power goes beyond the sessions. We’ll measure success through participant feedback and well-being surveys before and after the sessions, tracking improvements in: ✅ Confidence ✅ Enjoyment ✅ Social connection

By providing bursary memberships and encouraging continued participation, we hope to foster a new generation of confident, connected, and resilient young paddlers.

Thank You, Greggs Foundation!

We are incredibly grateful to the Greggs Foundation for supporting this project. Their commitment to building stronger communities has allowed us to make a real difference in young people’s lives.

Join the Fun!

If your child would like to try kayaking or canoeing in Cardiff, keep an eye out for our next "Come and Try It" sessions at Better Llanishen Swimming Pool or Cardiff International White Water Centre. We can’t wait to get more young people on the water—building confidence, making friends, and improving well-being one paddle at a time!