Parks and Open Spaces

Champions of the Future Programme 2025 – Applications NOW OPEN!

Champions of the Future Programme 2025 - Applications NOW OPEN!

This one is for all you talented athletes in Westminster! Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity brought to by Westminster City Council, Everyone Active, London Sports Trust and Kings College London. 

Elevate your training and development to the next level!

The ActiveWestminster Champions of the Future programme gives Westminster’s gifted and talented athletes an opportunity to access financial support and mentoring to help with training and development.

How to apply

The window for applications is now open until Monday 11th March 2025. 

To be considered for the Champions of the Future programme, you must first make an application for the Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions programme. 

Visit Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions website 

2025 intake champions future

Qualifying Criteria

Athletes accepted on to the scheme are selected based on their sporting success and the level at which they compete.

To be considered for the programme applicants must:
  • Live, study or work in Westminster
  • Be registered with a National Governing Body affiliated club

and either:

  • Be ranked in the top 20 at a regional competition in the current year (2024 – 2025), or
  • Be a member of a regional squad (age band to senior) with regional squad results in the current championship year (2024 – 2025).
For more information about the process, the benefits and how the Champions of the Future application is linked to the Everyone Active Sporting Champions programme visit our dedicated page by clicking the button below. 
 

Update 14 October on the improvements works in Paddington Recreation Ground

Update 14 October on the improvements works in Paddington Recreation Ground

Exciting transformations are underway at Bluebell Glade Forest Garden!

The grand finale included the stunning planting of elegant Hornbeam arches and a spectacular addition of 7,000 bluebell bulbs, creating a breathtaking floral display.

Meanwhile, the Sayers Croft Forest School activity space is taking shape with a creative twist: a repurposed bicycle store from the Queen Mother Sports Centre has been reimagined, relocated to Paddington Recreation Ground, and beautifully reclad in recycled timber, all in time for the school’s autumn term!

PRG Improvement works Promo (1)

In early summer, our team hit the ground running to revitalize the village green pathways, completing the project by the end of July. As we asphalted the paths, we also tackled major drainage improvements at Grantully Gate, Morshead Gate, and the car park entrance, ensuring a smooth experience for all visitors.

All benches received a stunning makeover—overhauled, recoated, and resealed to perfection! New fencing now graces the Rose Garden, adding to its charm, while fresh earth-retaining timber edging enhances the minor paths.

Looking ahead, we’re gearing up for exciting projects set to wrap up by December 2024. These include refurbishing the majestic main gates, enhancing the pathways from Essendine Gate to the pavilion trackside, and tackling additional drainage improvements at Randolph Gate. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to elevate this beautiful community space!

* Please note that all dates are inclusive and weather dependant.

Please visit our dedicated page for Paddington Recreation Ground Improvements to find out the status of each of the works.

Women-Only 1v1 Street Basketball Tournament 21 August

Women-Only 1v1 Street Basketball Tournament 21 August

Are you ready to show your skills on the court? Do you want to compete with other talented young women in a thrilling street basketball tournament? If you are under 17 or under 20, this is your chance to shine!

On Saturday, 21 August, Melita Emanuel-Carr is hosting a street basketball tournament for women only taking place at the Queens Park Gardens W10 4QH.

FREE entry!

The tournament will start at 4pm and end at 7pm.

This is 1v1 tournament is organised by Melita Emanuel-Carr, top team GB international player. The event aims to provide any player a great opportunity to have fun, make friends, and challenge yourself in a friendly and supportive environment. Whether you are an experienced player or a beginner, you are welcome to join us and enjoy the game. Street basketball is not only a sport, but also a culture, a lifestyle, and a way of expression.

Don’t miss this chance to be part of something amazing!

We are rooting for you!

basketball tournament

Congratulations to our Westminster 2024 Olympians!

Congrats to our Westminster 2024 Olympians

We just wanted to say a huge congrats and well done to our two amazing Champions of the Future Athletes that made it to the Paris Olympics this year!

A reminder of who they are

Ashely McKenzie

Ashley represented Jamaica in the Judo competition and made it all the way to round 16! Ashley comes from Queen’s Park and joined Moberly Judo Club as a child. He has had an amazing career which has seen him win the Commonwealth Games Gold for England twice. 

 

 
Bianca Williams

Bianca represented Team GB in the women’s 200m athletics and made it all the way to the semi-final! She won bronze in last year’s World Athletics Championships as part of the 4x100m relay team and made the semi-final in 200m. Bianca has won multiple medals representing England and Team over her brilliant career and lives in Maida Vale and often trains at Paddington Recreation Ground. 

 

 
Find out how you can become a champion of the Future!

If you are a gifted or talented young athlete who lives in Westminster, be sure to check out our Champions of the Future Programme! Let us help you to elevate your career to the next level. The next round of applications opens in February 2025 so keep an eye out. 

 

Celebrating Love Parks – Enjoy Westminster Parks and Green Spaces

Celebrating Love Parks 2024

Make the Most our Parks and Open Spaces!

Love Parks week is an annual campaign from KeepBritainTidy.org celebrating parks, green spaces, and the dedicated volunteers and workers that look after them all year round. This year, Love Parks week runs from 26 July – 4 August.

Green spaces play a vital role in boosting the health and wellbeing of residents and communities. From providing spaces for communities to come together, socialise, play and engage in group activities and events, to allowing some time for solo activities like walking, and reading to decompress, enjoy nature and get away from the grind of day to day life, they are truly versatile.

Westminster has over 80 parks and open spaces (30 of which have Green Flag status), so plenty to choose from if you are a resident, study, or work in the area. You can find out more on our dedicated Parks and Open webpage.

Make the most of it – read, walk, exercise, relax, meet a friend, play or simply enjoy nature.

Grosvenor Estate Outdoor Gym Launch

Grosvenor Estate Outdoor Gym Launched Successfully

Grosvenor Estate Outdoor Gym launched to encourage physical activity in local area

We pleased to share that the outdoor gym at Grosvenor Estate launched on Saturday 27th July! Thanks to all of you that joined us on the day.

It was exciting to see the positive reaction from people in the local community. Our goal is to make sure physical activity and or the means to exercise and stay active is available to people from all walks of life. Not only does this have a positive impact on health by reducing the risk of developing several diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, it also improves the general quality of life. 

As part of this project an unused playground has now been transformed into a fully functioning outdoor gym, featuring six new pieces of fitness equipment. We had one of our Everyone Active instructors on hand to guide people on how best to use it, alongside the Public Health Team. 

 

If you live locally or just feel like working out somewhere make sure you drop by and check it out: Grosvenor Estate, Between Schomberg and Tothill Houses, SW1P 4BH