Paddle Cymru

If you’re out on the water this summer, here’s a simple thing that could make a huge difference in an emergency.

You can order free waterproof ID labels for your paddlesport equipment from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

👉 https://mca-ws.apsmos.com/ViewProduct.html?sp=Swaterprooflabels

These labels help emergency services quickly identify the owner if equipment is found in the water. Without them, a missing canoe, kayak or paddleboard can trigger a full search and rescue response, not knowing whether someone is in danger.

A small label with your contact details can:
-Give peace of mind if your equipment is found
-Help emergency services quickly understand the situation
-Support a quicker, more informed response

It takes minutes to apply, but it could save hours of uncertainty.

Please share this post. The more people who know about this, the more we can help the emergency services do their job.

Stay safe. Look out for each other.

Last chance to influence the BCAB Coach Award

The BCAB Coach Award is being reviewed NOW, and this is the point where feedback can influence future changes.

This qualification shapes expectations on coaches and how paddlesport is delivered. If you are working in the sector, it affects you.

We’ve had a low response from Wales so far. That means our experiences and needs risk being underrepresented.

If you want the qualification to reflect real delivery on the ground, this is your opportunity.

The survey takes around 10 minutes and closes on 5 June 2026. Please share widely.

Coach Award Review Fill out this form.

With the hot weather, more people are heading to our rivers, lakes, reservoirs and the sea.

We’ve already seen a number of serious incidents in recent days. It’s a stark reminder that open water can be unpredictable and dangerous, even when it looks calm.

Cold water shock is just one of the risks. Strong currents, undercurrents, changing flow, waves and hidden debris can all catch people out quickly. What’s beneath the surface isn’t always visible, and conditions can change fast.

If you unexpectedly get into trouble in the water, try to stay calm and Float to Live.
Lean back, keep your airway clear, and use your arms and legs to help you stay afloat. Focus on controlling your breathing before deciding what to do next.

If you see someone in trouble, call 999 or 112. At the coast, ask for the coastguard. Inland, ask for the fire service..

Please take a moment to share this.

You might think it’s not for you, but the power of sharing posts like this is huge. It helps this information reach beyond the paddling community to families, walkers, swimmers and anyone spending time near the water. That reach can genuinely make a difference when it matters most.

Take a moment. Know the risks. Stay safe.


RNLI

Float to live could save your life. Remember it. Share it. #FloatToLive Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

⚠️ Urgent: FOUND CANOE – RIVER WYE

HM Coastguard have recovered a canoe on the River Wye and are urgently trying to trace the owner to confirm their safety.

This is a live, time-critical incident.

The canoe does not appear to be a commercial hire boat (no company markings & Hereford Canoe Hire was contacted), so we are asking the wider paddling community to help.

UPDATE: The Coast Guard retrieved it bellow the Boat Inn at Chepstow before the estuary.

If you recognise this canoe or have any information about who it might belong to, please contact HM Coastguard immediately:
📞 01646 690909

Please share this post to help reach the right people as quickly as possible.

What does the future of paddling look like to you?

Paddle UK is shaping its next national strategy, and this is your chance to have a say. Whether you paddle for fun, coach others, volunteer, or compete, your experience matters.

This is an important moment for Welsh paddlers to share what’s working, what needs to change, and what we want to see next across our rivers, lakes and coastlines.

Take a few minutes to read more and feed into the process here:
https://paddleuk.org.uk/help-shape-the-future-of-paddling/

Face-to-face opportunities for members in Wales will also be shared soon.

Help shape the future of paddling Paddle UK is developing its next strategy, and we want to hear from the people who paddle, volunteer, coach, compete, campaign, explore, support and care about the places we paddle. Across the UK…

Last chance to have your say on the BCAB Coach Award Review 2026.

The survey closes on 5 June 2026, and this is an important opportunity for coaches, providers and organisations to influence how the qualification supports real world paddlesport delivery.

Your feedback matters and could help shape future developments to the award.
Full details and the survey link are on our website 👉
https://www.paddlecymru.org.uk/bcab-coach-award-review-2026-have-your-say

It only takes around 10 minutes to complete.

BCAB Coach Award Review 2026 – Have Your Say This is a valuable opportunity for coaches, providers, clubs and organisations to help shape the future of one of the most important qualifications in the coaching pathway.

This weekend marks the start of the Big Paddle Cleanup, with paddlers across the UK getting out on the water to help look after the places we love.

It’s a simple idea. Get on the water, bring a bag, and take a bit of rubbish home with you. Rivers, lakes, canals and coastlines all benefit from small actions like this, especially in the places that are harder to reach from the bank.

Year after year, paddlers make a real difference, not just clearing litter, but showing how much these spaces matter to the communities who use them.

If you’re heading out this weekend, it’s an easy one to get involved in. Whether you join an organised clean up or just pick up what you can on your usual paddle, it all adds up.

Find out more or get involved here 👇
https://paddleuk.org.uk/big-paddle-cleanup/

And if you do take part, send us your photos, we’d love to share what’s happening across Wales.

Last weekend, water lovers right across the UK showed up in a big way, on beaches, riverbanks and along the coast, to say that polluted water should NOT be normal.

Events took place in 56 locations, with thousands getting involved.

For us, it’s simple. If you paddle, coach, lead sessions, or just enjoy being near the water, you need to be able to trust it. Clean water underpins everything, from weekend paddles to training, events and getting young people active outdoors.

If you joined in, we would love to see it. Drop us a message with any photos you have permission to share, and we’ll happily celebrate the community effort.

📷 Surfers Against Sewage

Have you ever seen sport and culture come together on a truly global stage?

Liverpool is set to do exactly that in May 2027, hosting a groundbreaking Inclusive Sport and Culture Festival that brings together elite para sport and a world class arts programme in one shared space.

From paracanoe on the waterfront to performances led by deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists, this week-long festival will celebrate talent, creativity and inclusion in a completely new way.

It is a powerful reminder of what sport can be when barriers are removed and everyone has a place on the water, on the stage, and in the crowd.

👉 Read more on the Paddle UK website

Liverpool to host groundbreaking Inclusive Sport & Culture Festival in May 2027 UK-first event set to unite elite sport and world class disabled-led arts in an unforgettable, week-long celebration of performance, creativity, and inclusion 2-8 May 2027. Liverpool is set to make…

A reminder to have your say on the BCAB Coach Award Review 2026.

If you’re a coach, learner, provider or an organisation that relies on paddlesport coaches, your feedback can help shape the future of the qualification and ensure it reflects real world delivery.

We’re supporting the review as Lead Delivery Centre and want to make sure voices from across Wales are heard.

Find out more and take part via our website 👉
https://www.paddlecymru.org.uk/bcab-coach-award-review-2026-have-your-say

The survey takes around 10 minutes and closes on 5 June 2026.

BCAB Coach Award Review 2026 – Have Your Say This is a valuable opportunity for coaches, providers, clubs and organisations to help shape the future of one of the most important qualifications in the coaching pathway.