In partnership with Pride House Birmingham in the run up to the 2022 Commonwealth Games, British Canoeing will be welcoming paddlers to take to the water at a come-and-try event at the Roundhouse in Birmingham on Sunday 24 July 2022. 

The pilot event will support Pride House’s ambitions to create a safe space and welcoming, inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ communities in sport. 

Paddling with Pride aims to be a celebration of inclusion, allyship, as well as all things paddling. It is a continuation of British Canoeing’s commitments to equality, diversity and inclusion under #WePaddleTogether, listening to insight and feedback from a range of communities, creating a positive cultural shift in paddling, and inviting everyone involved to join us on that journey.

Whether you have paddled before or are completely new to the water, people of all identities, including allies, are invited to join us on the Birmingham Canal Old Line in the city centre for paddling fun, to find out more about how to get on the water, and meet some of our wonderful club volunteers. 

If you were looking for even more reasons to join us on the day, you could be in with the chance of winning your very own rainbow Aquaplanet MAX 10”6 Stand Up Paddleboard if you register a place at the event before Friday 15th July - we’ll be presenting it to the winner on the day! 

Flags, facepaint and t-shirts are highly encouraged, as there will also be a Pride “Parade” on the water during the event.

British Canoeing’s Inclusion Survey responses show that people who identify as LGBTQ+ often still feel unwelcome in paddling. We heard that people fear being outed or treated poorly on account of their sexuality or gender identity, and that there is still a general perception that paddling is not an activity for LGBTQ+ people, who are not well-represented. 

“Our ambition for Paddling with Pride is to better connect with and show allyship to the community through a welcoming and enjoyable paddling experience, and begin to break down and address some of these barriers and perceptions,” added Helena.

“Paddling also goes beyond participating or competing -  it’s about our club volunteers, our coaches and leaders, the environmental campaign work we do, and so much more. This event is a platform to open the door to all of the wonderful things paddling can be, and show the importance of representation and acceptance in all of those spaces,” she said.