Sheena Kotecha

New Year, New Skills: Free Training For Westminster Residents

New Year, New Skills: Free Training For Westminster Residents

The new year is the perfect time to upgrade your skills, build confidence and invest in your future. We’re offering a range of FREE Foundation Training courses for Westminster residents, designed to support both individual growth and stronger local communities.

Pratical skills for life and work

The Foundation Training Offer includes accessible, real world courses for residents aged 16 and over, including:

  • First Aid (In person) : Monday 23rd February
  • Safeguarding & protecting children workshop (In person) : Wednesday 25th February
  • Equality & Diversity & Inclusion Training (Online)
  • Unconscious Bias (Online)

Stronger skills, stronger communities

When residents build new skills, the benefits go far beyond the individual. For example residents experienced in first aid and safeguarding leads to the creation of safer neighborhoods, while learning about equality and inclusion supports more connected, supportive communities.

By up skilling residents are better equipped to support others, contribute to local organisations and play an active role in strengthening communities across Westminster.

Free and easy access

All courses are FREE of charge and delivered in partnership with Westminster City Council and trusted providers. Whether you are returning to learning, boosting employability or gaining useful life skills, this training is open to you.

Make 2026 the year you invest in yourself and your community.

Get all the details for our Foundation Training. Find out more about our Skills and Training Programme and Bursary Offer.

Invest in a Greener Westminster

Invest In A Greener Westminster

Residents this is your opportunity to support local climate action while investing in a greener future for the City of Westminster.

The council has partnered with Abundance Investment to launch the Westminster Green Investment, giving people the chance to invest directly in local sustainability projects from as little as £5. 

Investing in local climate action

Westminster is working towards becoming a net zero city, and this investment helps fund practical projects that reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency across the borough.

By investing, residents can support climate action happening right here in the City, to help create a cleaner, more sustainable environment for everyone.

How the Westminster Green Investment Works

UK residents aged 18 and over can invest online through Abundance Investment’s platform. Investors can earn a return over a fixed term while knowing exactly where there money is being used.

Investments can also be held within an Innovative Finance ISA, meaning any returns may be tax-free.

Projects currently being supported

Funds help deliver energy-saving improvements in community buildings including leisure centres and day centres, such as LED lighting, insulation, draught proofing and solar technology.

Get involved

 This scheme offers a simple and accessible way to support ethical investing while backing real projects that benefit people and the planet.

Smash Into Saturdays With Junior Squash At Lord’s

Smash Into Saturdays With Junior Squash At Lord's

Our brand new Junior Squash sessions at Lord’s Cricket Ground designed to give young residents a fun and welcoming way to get active, learn new skills and be part of a sporting community.

Sessions will take place every Saturday from 12:20 – 13:40pm at the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), Lord’s Cricket Ground, NW8 8QN, and are open to juniors of all abilities.

Squash is a fast-paced sport that helps young people develop fitness, agility, co-oridnation and reaction speed, whilst also building confidence, focus and resilience. It’s a great way for juniors to stay active, make friends and enjoy learning in a supportive environment.

Whether your child is picking up a racket for the first time or looking to improve their game, these sessions offer a fantastic opportunity to move, play and grow through sport.

For more information contact Ivy Deltiends at admin@middlesexjuniorsquash.co.uk

Nurture your child’s confidence and co-oridination through sport

Bust the Boredom This February Half Term With Edutain and Edutain+ Holiday Camps

Bust The Boredom This February Half Term With Edutain And Edutain+ Holiday Camps

School’s out and the fun is on! This February half term, ActiveWestminster’s Edutain and Edutain+ Holiday Camps are back, bringing action-packed days of sport, play and creativity for children and young people in Westminster.

What’s on this February Half Term

We’re bringing action-packed days filled with sport, activity, creativity and plenty of opportunities to connect and make new friends.

  • For children and young people aged 8–13 for Edutain and 8-16 for Edutain+
  • FREE spaces available for those eligible for free school meals

Edutain camp dates:

Camps are open to children aged 8-13 and run from 10:00am to 3:00pm from Monday 16 – Friday 20 February

Two Locations:

  • Academy Sport, Torquay Street W2 5EW
  • Community Centre (Under Morgan House), Lillington Gardens, SW1V 2LF

*BOOKING IS REQUIRED*

For more information or to book, call Ryan Denys on 07956 956167 or email ryan.denys@sportwestminster.org

Edutain+: A place to play, belong and thrive

With Edutain+, children and young people with disabilities can explore, create, and stay moving in a fully supported, welcoming setting.

Camp will be open to children aged 8–16 where they enjoy exciting, accessible activities that spark imagination and build confidence and will run from 10:00 am to 3:00pm from Tuesday 17 – Thursday 19 February.

Location: Academy Sport, Torquay Street W2 5EW

*BOOKING IS REQUIRED

For more information or to book, call 07891 386 688 or email leonard.lionel@sportwestminster.org

Brought to you by our trusted delivery partners SportWestwww.sportwest.org.uk

Six Years Of junior parkrun At Paddington Recreation Ground!


Paddington Recreation Ground Celebrates 6 Years Of junior parkrun This Jan!

On Sunday 26th January, Paddington Recreation Ground junior parkrun chanted “cheers to 6 years” as local children, young people, parents, guardians and volunteers set off for another weekly run. 

Humble beginnings

Starting with just 1 or 2 participants on occasion, the junior parkrun at Paddington Recreation Ground has gone strength to strength since launch. The site has since hosted 1,159 participants (approcx 85 runners per week) aged 4-14, who have run, walked, jogged and even skipped the 2K around the mapped out route. 

Our volunteers make it happen

The run solely relies on our dedicated troop of 370 primarily local volunteers (and some volun-tourists from as far as Texas and Australia). They do everything from setting, to ensuring the safety of participants and managing, marshaling, time keeping and tail walking.

We want to take this opportunity to give a special, heartfelt thanks to a number of our volunteers who have volunteered with us 100 times! This includes David Phillipa, Jawaid, Florentina, Kathy, and Genevieve. Local Resident John May has volunteered a whooping 216 times! Now that’s what you call dedication.

Through this initiative we have also supported 18 young peopke with volunteering opportunities as part of the their Duke of Edward Award.

Join us

Whether you want to volunteer or become one of our junior runners, we will welcome you with open arms to be part of this thriving community event. 

Join us every Sunday morning at 9:00 am at Padding Recreation Ground

Where little legs go far and big hearts make it happen

Let’s Get Westminster Moving: The ActiveWestminster Delivery Plan 2026


Let's Get Westminster Moving: The ActiveWestminster Delivery Plan 2026

ActiveWestminster has launched it’s Strategy Delivery Plan for 2026, setting out how we’ll turn bold ambitions for health, wellbeing ad physical activity into real, measurable actions across Westminster. 

Building on the ActiveWestminster Strategy 2024-2028, the Delivery Plan focuses on making it easier, fairer and more inclusive for people to be active, whether its walking, cycling, dancing, playing sport or simply moving more in everyday life.

From vision to action

This practical plan designed to deliver impact. It outlines clear priorities and actions for the year ahead, with progress monitored and shared to ensure transparency and accountability. 

Community-led, partnership-driven

The Delivery Plan put communities at the centre. By working closely with residents, community organisations, health partners, schools and local businesses, ActiveWestminster will deliver activity opportunities shaped by local needs.

Tackling inequality, opening opportunities

Access to physical activity isn’t equal. The plan targets inequalities by focusing support when barriers are greatest, helping more people experience the physical, mental and social benefits of being active.

Move for life!

Delivered through Move For Life! Framework, the plan champions everyday movement that fits eal lives, supporting people of all ages and abilities move more, more often.

Click the button below to read the Strategy Delivery Plan 2026 and see how we’re turning ambition into action for a healthier, more active Westminster.