During May half-term, the participants from our Premier League Kicks programme in Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham came together to take part in a ‘paddle and pick’ exercise.

Taking place at Canalside in Ladbroke Grove, the challenge involved the 20 participants using a litter picker to collect waste while kayaking on the Grand Union Canal courtesy of London Sports Trust.

Participants learned about their current contributions to the climate by finding out their carbon footprints, hearing about which factors cause a footprint to be high and steps they can take to reduce it, focusing mainly on transport and food. 

The day formed part of the Protect the Planet programme which has been used across both Premier League Kicks and Premier League Inspires activity.

Melisa Muhanguzi, senior officer at Chelsea Foundation, said: ‘This has been a great opportunity for us to learn about what we are currently doing to support or hinder the environment we live in today. We can all make changes to ensure we have a positive impact on our environment and I’m sure everyone who took part today will be inspired to take that forward in the future.’

John Kain, Operations Manager at London Sports Trust, said: ‘It was great to have the Chelsea Foundation participants out on the water this week. For many it was their first time and they really enjoyed it, we hope they have a newfound respect for their local waterways and the impact improper rubbish disposal can have on the environment.’