Foleshill Paddle Warriors
A group of volunteers from Rising Stars Youth and Community group based in the greater Foleshill area of Coventry partnered with Mercia Canoe Club in Coventry over the Summer to complete the British Canoeing Paddlesport Safety & Rescue Course and the Paddlesport Instructors Course.
The 7 volunteers, 4 men and 3 females were greatly assisted by Mercia Canoe Club based at the Canal Basin and the Paddletastic Kayaking Club which meet at The Xcel Centre. The training for the qualification involved 8 gruelling weeks of learning to master canoes, kayaks and paddleboards, most of the group had no previous experience of paddlesports. The group met every Sunday morning for training at the Canal Basin, to undertake 5 hours of training with Mercia Canoe Club plus further training every Thursday evening with Paddletastic Coaches.
Ayaz Maqsood Chairperson at Rising Stars explained why the group undertook the course ‘Rising Stars which is based in Foleshill for the past two decades has always been about providing sporting and leisure opportunities that people from Foleshill don’t usually get the opportunity to experience. Although the Canal Basin is located at the top of the Foleshill Road and Mercia Canoe Club had been round for decades there were not enough people from Foleshill, particularly ethnic minorities and women taking part in Paddlesports’.
The group were overwhelmed with the support that was provided by the existing paddlesport community in Coventry. Ayaz Maqsood commented “It was heartwarming to meet and be supported by the local paddlesport community represented by both Mercia Canoe Club and Paddletastic canoe club. We are particularly grateful to Nigel Wooltorton and Paul Smithers from Mercia Canoe Club who gave up 5 hours each Sunday morning over 7 weeks to coach and train the group”.
With funding provided by British Canoeing the Rising Stars Group embarked upon the task of training to become Paddlesport Instructors. It was felt important that people from Foleshill needed to become instructors to encourage others from the community to take part. Nigel Wooltorton from Mercia Canoe Club commented “We were very pleased to provide our facilities and training for the Rising Stars group. We had been concerned that there were not enough people from our local area taking up paddlesports particularly from ethnic minorities and specifically women from these communities. Rising Stars provided us with a great opportunity to get greater participation from these groups. I was very impressed with the dedication from the Rising Stars Group and so pleased that they all passed this very tough course”.
Annette Allen from Rising Stars commented “I hadn’t realised how tough the course was going to be, but most of it was fun. The particular fear we all had was practicing rescues in Coventry Canal, but after we went into the canal once it was fine, but oh so cold!”
Rising stars provides many social and sporting activities for the communities in Greater Foleshill including youth clubs, badminton, wrestling/self-defence classes, hiking, cycling and walking groups. They were the group that was behind the idea of providing Coventry’s first ever Women’s Lifeguard Course and Women’s Swimming Instructors course.
Sarah Ashique from Rising Stars commented “after our experience in leading with women only swimming, cycling and self-defence/keep fit sessions in Foleshill, we realised women and girls form our community from every ethnic background were more encouraged to take up new sports and interests if they were led and run by women. Rising Stars provides the ideal community platform for women to train and lay on activities for other females”.
Rising stars have been in undated with individuals and groups wanting to take up Paddlesport sessions at the Canal Basin. Three members of the group hope to complete the Paddlesport Leaders award which allow them to take groups on rivers and in the sea.
Ayaz Maqsood
Chairperson, Rising Stars Group
September 2023