London Link Group

Young Quaker London Link Group

Author: Rebecca Fricker (page 1 of 3)

Paddles ahoy!

We are advised to Live Adventurously and that is what 13 Linkers, supported by 5 adult volunteers, did on a hot sunny day in the Lea Valley.

After successfully passing a challenging swimming test, involving jumping into a fast flowing body of water to prove we could swim to safety, 16 of us were divided into 2 crafts to experience Whitewater Rafting – down the course built for the 2012 London Olympics.

Events were faithfully recorded by our onshore Ffriends and we thank them, and our lovely instructors, for their support!

We learnt the importance of following instructions in order to prevent capsizing/falling out of a raft, how to work together as a team to move forward (and backwards), and how to overcome understandable fears and move out of our comfort zones. While having a very fun time (if not quiet – there was a lot of screaming). Many of us also got some first hand experience of following instructions after capsizing/falling out of a raft. 

We then hit the water again for Wipeout – cheerfully racing each other on an inflatable obstacle course, occasionally falling (or pushing someone else) in! While less scary, there was still a lot of laughter and screaming. Once we’d tired ourselves out we enjoyed bobbing blissfully in the lake under the hot sun.

Follow in the path of Olympians on a White Water Rafting experience, tackle an inflatable obstacle Water Wipeout course, or just have a gentle walk…..

London Link is going to the Lea Valley Olympic Whitewater Centre on Saturday 11 July! Join us for rafting, or a walk in the Lee Valley Park if you prefer, followed by the water wipeout inflatable course on the lake.

More details here https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/lee-valley/white-water-centre 

How you might be post event!

This will be our most exciting and adrenaline-fuelled London Link event yet, and we will be delighted if you can join us – we welcome anyone aged 11-18, living in or around London, and have any association with (or interest in) Quakers!

IMPORTANT DETAILS

Meet: 12.15 for 12.30 departure on Saturday 11 July at Friends House (Euston)

(Travel card will be needed – cost is £5.20 each way)

Return: Around 6.45pm

Cost: £15 Rafting, £5 Wipeout, £0 walk (this is a BARGAIN and much less than the regular Lee Valley rates) 

Note: Lea Valley will require each participant / parent or carer to sign the following declaration / waiver form before the event

https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/lee-valley/white-water-centre/faqs/moving-water-declaration-form

Details for the form: David Holtam is our organiser, Rafting 2-4pm, Wipeout 4.15-5.30pm

All participants must wear closed toe shoes, no sandals, flip flops, heeled shoes or crocs. 

You must also wear a minimum of shorts and t-shirts (covering shoulders, tummy and tops of legs) – we recommend bringing towel, change of clothes, warm layers , swimmies (and snacks)

If you have any additional needs, or questions, please contact David Holtam (david.holtam@gmail.com)

We will have (fully DBS checked) volunteers helping with transport, in the water and out of the water!

SPACES ARE LIMITED TO PLEASE BOOK ASAP AND NO LATER THAN 4 JULY!

We have 18 spaces for rafting and 20 for Wipeout.

Register here https://londonlinkgroup.org.uk/lee-valley-olympic-whitewater-centre/

Friendly weekend in Forest Hill: 7-8 March 2026

Calling all London Linkers aged 11-18. We are heading back to Forest Hill Meeting House for our next residential.

Booking is now open and the deadline is Sunday 1st March to allow us enough time to ensure we have the right quantities of food and volunteers!

What will we be up to we hear you cry?

Games, hanging out, eating delicious food, and (hopefully) an Ada and Alfred Salter themed walking tour of Bermondsey on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday morning we will join Forest Hill Quakers for Meeting for Worship, followed by a shared lunch.

Meet: Saturday 7 March

10am London Bridge Station or 10.45 Forest Hill Meeting House (don’t forget your Zip Oyster)

Leave: Sunday 8 March 2.30pm (from the Meeting House)

Cost: £5

Reminders will be sent closer to the time regarding what to bring but we will be sleeping on the floor (see picture) so sleeping bag, camping mat and a pillow are a must. Toothpaste is optional (in our opinion – other adults may disagree) there are toilets and sinks (but no showers)!

There is also a lovely garden for football and other outdoor games.

Winterval

What do Venn diagrams, pizza and a wooden ghost all have common?

They all featured in the London Link Group annual Winterval celebration kindly hosted by Westminster Quaker meeting at the end of January.

19 young people from in and around London, and 5 amazing adult volunteers, came together to enjoy different games, a fantastic quiz, and pizza making. We shared a Meeting for Worship for Business where names were considered to complete our new London Teenage Quaker Meeting (LTQM) clerking team, and ideas were taken for future events.

It was a friendly and good-humoured afternoon, with much patience shown when a rogue food order delayed the presence of biscuits. Cue a slightly frantic supermarket sweep – apologies to anyone in Covent Garden looking for pizza bases – we ate them all! And enjoyed them.

Winterval & LTQM Meeting 2026

Winterval (for ages 11-19) is taking place on Sunday 25th January 2-6pm. Join us for games, a fun Quaker quiz, Worship and making your own pizza!

London Teenage Quaker Meeting (for ages 13-19) will be held every 4th Sunday of the month in 2026 (2-4pm). Join our friendly young Quakers for games, biscuits and worship.

These are taking place at Westminster Meeting House

Booking is essential and needs to be done if you want to come to Winterval or any LTQM!

This is so we know about any possible issues (e.g. allergies) and have emergency contact details if needed. Thank you.

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