The survey takes just five minutes to complete. The results will inform the Council as they work to ensure facilities and services meet the needs of residents.

Sport and opportunities for physical activity are a big deal in Tower Hamlets. Under Labour’s last administration, sports was little more than a couple of people taking bookings and running a couple of events. Now Tower Hamlets Council is part of Let’s Move Tower Hamlets, a programme funded by Sport England. This brings together the Council with other organisations in the borough that work in health and education, together with sports organisations themselves. They work together to try to reduce inequalities and help residents move more – which will improve their health and wellbeing.

Let’s Move Tower Hamlets is developing a new Strategy covering sports, leisure, physical activity and active wellbeing in Tower Hamlets. You have just two days, at the time of writing, to have your say. The language of the survey is a bit technical (it has a dose of Council Speke) at the start, but it changes to normal English quite soon. You do have to register with the consultation system to do the survey. This is annoying, but it does stop people packing the survey by answering several times. Once you have registered, it is quick to log in again when another consultation comes along.

●Take the survey:
Survey

●Read more about it:
Dr Zakir Khan hands out medals at Community Shield
New Mayor’s Cup puts badminton on the map

●To catch up with the news in East London, go to:
East London News

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The football wasn’t the only point of interest that day. The Football Association (FA) held its Grassroots Football Awards. The awards celebrate the achievements of everyone in football, from volunteers to coaches, in improving diversity in the game.

Dr Zakir Khan was presented with the National Bobby Moore Award in recognition of his longstanding contribution and service to grassroots football over the last 35 years.

Dr Khan is known to many East Londoners for his work with Canary Wharf, where he was the Director of Community Affairs. He also founded the Bangladesh Football Association. Dr Khan has developed and nurtured young people from the Bangladeshi community –- and now he is the first British Bangladeshi to receive this level of recognition from the FA. He said that it was a great honour to receive the award.

The day didn’t stop there for Dr Khan. He was a guest of honour at the match and went on to present the medals to the winning team.

●To catch up with the news in East London, go to:
East London News

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First, though, congratulations to the winners.

Open Age Women’s Event Winners
Onyinye Nkemdirim and Phuong Phuong
Farzana Sheikh and Momota Hussain

Open Age Men’s Event Winners
Tarek Ahmed & Jahed Ahmed 

Junior (mixed) Doubles Winners
Ismail Ahmed and Md Shipar

The Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism spoke after the event, re-stating the Council’s commitment to providing opportunities for residents, especially women and girls, to engage in sports. The Cabinet Member went on to say that she looks forward to another exciting tournament next year. What was missing was any information on where residents can play badminton during the year. Annual Tournaments don’t just organise themselves. They are supposed to be a flagship event drawing people into the sport. That needs a Cabinet Member who will work on badminton throughout the year, not just at annual showcase events.

The Council’s website promotes Tower Hamlets Badminton Club. This seems to hold sessions on Saturday evenings. The photos on its website are all of men – playing and sitting on the board. They may be good at what they do, but they do not look as if they will be providing the opportunities for women and girls that the Cabinet Member is hoping to fulfil.

Those who are happy to go it alone, rather than join a club, will find opportunities at the Be Wells, which launched a drive to involve more residents in playing badminton last summer. There’s a Badminton Membership, which lasts for eight sessions, and a 50-session membership: they are priced at £49 and £299 respectively (June 2025 rates – check with your Be Well for any update). That price is probably lower than commercial rates, but it will still be out of reach for many residents in Tower Hamlets – especially young residents. The website also lists sessions at some youth centres, some as part of school holiday schemes.

Cabinet Members receive a financial allowance so that they can work on promoting the services in their portfolio. There are loads of ways the Council could use its position to promote badminton. An alliance with schools could offer badminton to children and young people – and mums and dads after school and at weekends. Secondary schools could have a Badminton League. Badminton could be played throughout the Young Tower Hamlets centres. There could be ongoing promotion of these activities. Badminton has cheap equipment, and it can be played by all ages. It would be nice to see a Cabinet Member who would put some time into developing the sport at grassroots level.

●For more information about Tower Hamlets Badminton Club, go to:
Tower Hamlets Badminton Club

●To catch up with the news in East London, go to:
East London News

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That’s the message emphasised by Tower Hamlets Council today, as they have reminded residents and visitors not to swim in Shadwell Basin (see picture). The water may look inviting, but there can be all sorts of obstacles on the floor of our rivers and canals. These can entangle swimmers and hold them under the water. Rivers, canals and large areas of standing water – such as docklands and basins – can also have currents you may not be expecting. Often the edges to our water have been built up: it is all too easy to be dragged under these edging ledges and to find yourself with no light and no sense of where the way out is. Finally, even if the weather is very warm, the water can still be cold and leave swimmers shocked and struggling.

The good news is that there are plenty of places in Tower Hamlets where you can go swimming in safety. Four Be Well Centres have swimming pools which are free for men and women over 35:
•Mile End Swimming Pool
•Poplar Baths Swimming Pool
•York Hall Swimming Pool (this is temporarily closed)
•Tiller Road Swimming Pool

We do hope that the pools are free for children, but this is not clear on the Tower Hamlets press release – or the Be Well website. You do have to book a place to go swimming: the best thing is probably to go to the Be Well Centre near you and ask. Be careful when looking for Be Well centres: the Be Well website states that the Tiller Leisure Centre is near Canary Wharf, but it is nowhere near Canary Wharf – though it is near several residential estates.

In the meantime, if you see someone struggling in the water, call 999.

●For more information go to:
Be Well

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The event marked Knife Crime Awareness Week. The football, at the Bobby Moore Sports Hub in Parsloes Park, Dagenham, was a closely fought battle. Riverside Secondary School triumphed, for the second year running, after a penalty shoot-out against Eastbury. All players were rewarded with medals and lunch, and there were also awards for each team’s best player, top goal scorer and goal of the tournament.

After the football, the students listened to speakers who encouraged them to keep clear of knives – and knife crime.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, said, “Knife crime continues to impact communities across London, which is why engaging young people is so important. Events like this tournament not only build awareness but also highlight the positive paths and support available to them.”

Knife Crime Awareness Week was launched by the Ben Kinsella Trust. Their CEO, Patrick Green, said, “Knife Crime Awareness Week is a crucial moment for all of us to come together and recognise that prevention starts with opportunity. It also brings together the police, Barking and Dagenham Council, and frontline organisations to showcase the vital work happening day in, day out to keep young people safe.

“Too many young people feel their choices are limited, but when we invest in meaningful, positive activities, such as this football tournament, we show them a different path. Whether through sport, creativity, education, or community programmes, these opportunities allow young people to discover their talents, build confidence, and see a future full of possibility.”

Chief Inspector Mo Mahmood, from the Metropolitan Police in Barking and Dagenham said, “Knife crime has devastating consequences for individuals, families, and our communities. That’s why prevention and early engagement with young people is vital. We are committed to working alongside our partners in Barking and Dagenham to reduce violence and keep our communities safe, and I’m encouraged to see so many young people taking part in such a positive and empowering event.”

●To find out more about the range of activities and opportunities for young people, go to:
Young people

●To find out more about Knife Crime Awareness Week, go to:
Knife Crime Awareness Week

●Read more about it:
Soccer Sixfest comes to Mile End
Orient tickets all but sold out

●To catch up with the news in East London, go to:
East London News

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Tickets can be bought online, in person or by post, and prices strart at £405 for the year. CEO Mark Devlin welcomed the support, saying, “As I have said previously, we have been really pleased with the number of supporters who have already committed to a Season Card for the new season. Although there is a bit of time, and still plenty of work for us to do over the summer, it makes me excited for the beginning of the new season.” The Club will receive its fixture list on 25th June.

●For information on how to buy your ticket, go to:
Ticket information

●Read more about it:
Hospices thank Leyton Orient for funds
Orient announce move to involve supporters

●To catch up with the news in East London, go to:
East London News

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There will be music, sport and entertainment with social media names and faces. The original celebrity football tournament is back to celebrate Fest’s 30th anniversary – where Britpop music from 30 years ago will feature.

It’s an event for all ages, but under 14s must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are £20, plus a £2 booking fee. But Early Bird tickets are on sale now for just £6 plus a £1 booking fee – so don’t delay!

●To get your ticket, go to:
Tickets

●Read more about it:
More stories about football

●To catch up with the news in East London, go to:
East London News

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●Free doughnuts for runners.
Take your finishing medal to any Krispy Kreme store today and claim a free Original Glazed Doughnut.

●Spencer Matthews runs with The Turmeric Co.
Veteran marathon runner Spencer Matthews ran to highlight the toll that marathon training is taking on the joints of runners. To get his point across, he put The Turmeric Co. logos on his knees. Spencer was championing the role of natural nutrients – such as turmeric – in supporting post-training and post-race recovering and in preventing injury. Nearly half of active Brits admit that they need pain relief to manage when they exercise, and four out of ten of those who exercise are coping with injury such as pain in the knees and lower back.
Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. The Turmeric Company supplies turmeric in shots to make it easier for runners to protect their joints. Join the programme now, and your first three months of functional turmeric shots are free!
Go to: Free Turmeric
PHOTO: Spencer Matthews takes on the Marathon with The Turmeric Co. “tattooed” across his knees, championing the role of natural nutrition – and ingredients like turmeric – in supporting recovery and helping to prevent running-related injuries.

●Good sleep is key!
Sleep expert Katrina O’Donnell has joined up with bed and mattress retailer Land of Beds to highlight how quality rest is a key performance factor for success at the marathon and in other forms of exercise. It helps muscle recovery and hormone regulation.
Land of Beds offers a wide range of mattresses, beds and other products to help you sleep well enough to get the most out of your daily life – and any marathons that come your way. See their products here, but be quick – their Spring Sale ends at midnight tonight:
Land of Beds

●Does it cost an arm and a leg?
Insure4Sport have calculated that competing in a London marathon could cost you up to £845 before you set off – that’s £32 per mile. The money’s spent on kit, shoes, coaching, travel, accommodation = and recovering from injuries incurred during training. The calculation is based on a survey of 203 UK adults who had done a marathon or were training to do one. Over half, 58%, said the cost of training was more than they had planned for – with 37% saying that costs were much higher than expected. Better stick to Park Run!

●From football to the marathon for Leukaemia Care
Maheta Molango lives in London and is the Chief Executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association. Last year he lost his father, Moly Molango, to leukaemia. This year Maheta ran the London Marathon in memory of his father, to raise awareness of leukaemia, and to raise money for Leukaemia Care, a charity which supports those who have leukaemia and their families. To support Maheta’s fundraising for Leukaemia Care, go to:
Leukaemia Care

●Take time to recover
Reaching the finishing line is not the end of the Marathon story. Ultrarunner Danny Brunton warns that it can take up to 72 hours for your body to recover. His warning is echoed by sports-tech brand Enertor. For more information about products which help you run safely, go to:
Enertor

●●To catch up with the news in East London, go to:
East London News

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The problem is that the England and Wales Cricket Board buys 4,000-5,000 cricket balls each summer for use at all Test matches and first class games in England. It buys the balls from a company called Dukes. Dukes does have a factory in the London Borough of Walthamstow, but that only distributes the balls – which are stitched in south Asia. The balls travel to the UK by plane via the Gulf – and plane routes through the Gulf are in rather short supply at the moment, given the US/Israeli attack on Iran.

Dukes’s owner, Dilip Jajodia, is quite cross about the situation. He has explained that there is a logjam in the freight business, so airlines are not taking new consignments through the Middle East. Worse, airlines which used to charge under £4 to carry a box of 120 cricket balls are now looking at charging three times as much.

Jajodia is planning to supply 50% of the order soon and hoping to complete the order in the future. He is also looking for other routes. With pre-season warm-up matches already underway and the County Championship due to begin on 3rd April, cricket fans across the country will be hoping that a solution is found very quickly.

●To catch up with the news in East London, go to:
East London News

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Parties will offer fans the opportunity to watch the match together, but it will be grander than just setting up a large screen telly. The parties offer an immersive fan experience: that means multi-screen coverage of the game, food and drink, together with entertainment and giveaways.

And one of these very special parties will be held on the northern fringe of East London – at Big Penny Social in Waltham Forest (1 Priestley Way, E17 6AL). Getting to the venue will be a problem for many East Londoners, which doesn’t seem to be near a Tube station. Still, this is the official event, so a determined fan will find a way to head north. Fans will also have to work out how to get home: doors open at 8.30pm and the event will end at 3am on Monday morning.

Standard tickets are £20 each for a night full of US-Football razzamatazz, with VIP packages also available. Sadly, the venue’s website does not list its access information, so anyone with any special needs will need to contact them direct for information. The Party is open to over-18s only, and everyone there will have to show a photo ID. There are also rules about bags and searches.

●For tickets, go to:
Tickets

●To catch up with the news in East London, go to:
East London News

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