The event saw participants of all ages from the local community take part in a variety of free land and water-based family activities at Bartley Reservoir, including Sailing Tasters, Kayaking, Bellboating, Soft Archery, Family Swim Safety Workshops and Rowing Machine races.

With support from leading organisations including Paddle UK, Love Rowing, Bell Boating, Canal & River Trust, StreetGames, Swim England, Bartley Sailing Club and the Andrew Simpson Foundation, the open day forms the first phase of an ambitious community collaboration that aims to offer year-round access to blue and green activities that support health, wellbeing, and opportunity across the city.

It comes at a perfect time, with Birmingham City Council’s Birmingham Physical Activity Strategy 2024-2034 finding that, “when compared nationally and regionally, levels of activity in children living in Birmingham are among the lowest in the region.” With a need for inclusive, accessible sporting opportunities across the city identified by the council, the unprecedented popularity of the Flow Together Watersports Festival is, as Greg van Heerden of Paddle UK states, “a testament to the appetite for the community around Bartley Green for watersports”, and illustrates the success with which multi-organisation collaborations can cater to this need.

Ali, a local parent who attended the event with her two children, praised the initiative for breaking down perceived barriers to sporting opportunities at the sailing centre, saying,

“I’ve got two children who are very sporty. We had never done these activities before [because] we thought it was more of a selective club […] so as soon as we found out [about the open event] I wanted them to try that, because they love sports. For us, the experience so far has been really good – everyone I’ve spoken to is very passionate [and] the children have loved it.”

The Andrew Simpson Centre Birmingham team have been overwhelmed by the positive response to the event, with Centre Manager Tayla Donovan saying: “It was fantastic to see so many smiling faces at the centre, and the day was such a great success. Thank you to all the team who worked tirelessly to ensure it went smoothly, and to all the partners we are working with to create a lasting impact on the local Birmingham community. We are proud to have been able to share our passion and enthusiasm with the local community.”

With another Open Day Event in the works for September 2025, the Flow Together team are excited to continue offering opportunities for the local community to access green and blue spaces across the city this summer and beyond.

Feeling inspired? Our range of courses, clubs, and taster sessions for kids and adults of all ages are available to view and book online here.