Last week I was really pleased to attend and congratulate the team on the official launch of the Generations Active Hounslow charity, an initiative led by Alan Watkinson, Mo Farah’s former coach, which I have been involved with as a steering group member for the last 7 years.

The project, led through the London Mayor’s Model City programme initially focussed on the West of the borough and has now launched as a local charity and is already driving important change in the involvement of young people in its work.

Generations Active Hounslow is a coalition of local people and organisations who believe in the power of sport and physical activity to unite and positively impact Hounslow. From swimming to walking, and football to dance, the members hold a range of sports and physical activities sessions and meet regularly to explore and address issues that matter most to the community.

As someone who grew up in Hounslow, attending Heston Primary School and The Green School, I used to train as a teenager at the old Feltham Arenas. At the event I spoke to the young leaders from Hounslow Schools who were at the launch, about why their work was so important and why it was vital we supported youth voice in this work in the community.

When I was young, I was encouraged to keep fit and take up running and sports and to enjoy it and participate, not because I was really good at sports, but because everyone should have the chance to be the best they can. I still go for a daily jog to this day, with habits I learnt at school and with school friends like Dawn Passey, who took the time to teach me and encourage me. I went on to represent Hounslow at a number of athletics meetings and take part in the mini-marathon.

But the other side of this project is the “generations” part of Generations Active. Sport in its different forms can and should be part of how we bring families and communities together and engage across the generations. Forms of sport are there for everyone, no matter your age, or whether you have a disability. The launch event was attended by special guest Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, one of Britain’s most accomplished Paralympic athletes who inspired the room with a Q&A led by the young school leaders.

At the launch event, Generations Active focused on the development of their young leader’s initiative which has been a great success. The initiative is aimed at building leadership skills and encouraging young people to make a positive impact through their passion of sports and physical activity. It was great to hear how the young people of Hounslow have turned a hobby or extracurricular activity at school into a way of learning and developing their leadership skills. By bringing these young leaders together, Generations Active is looking to establish a borough-wide Sports Leaders Academy.

Along side this important project, I am also pleased the Government announced in the Autumn Budget that it is committed to investing in multi-sport grassroots facilities. The Chancellor has allocated £123 million in the 2024-2025 financial year to improving these facilities and widen access of recreational sports across the UK. With an additional £9 million per year allocated to UK Sport’s Olympic and Paralympic programmes, the Government has promoted the value of sports and physical activities and the positive impact they can have on our communities.

I want to congratulate all who continue to be involved in the project, from Hounslow Swimming Club, to Re-N-gage, to KO Club Trust and Age UK, and to all who are getting involved for the first time. The project needs you, and all are welcome. Together let’s make a difference to the well-being of all in Hounslow.