Water Adventure Centre

The Water Adventure Centre (WAC) was established in 1977 and is based at Fairfield Locks beside the Ashton Canal in Droylsden. WAC evolved co-operatively from the desire to have an adventure playground on the water and since its conception has advanced into a fantastic provision for young people and those who have least, on and off the water.

WAC is a registered charity with a youth and play work ethos delivering fun canoeing and watercraft activities with local communities and groups from Greater Manchester. We deliver open-access youth and play clubs and family events as well as running three additional detached projects at Chorlton Water Park, Play Clayton and Newton Heath. We use our activities on the water to promote all round health and well-being through the delivery of unique and memorable play and youth work experiences and activities. Our provisions enable (primarily) children and young people to develop confidence & self-esteem, teamwork, negotiation, and communication skills as well as gaining a great sense of enjoyment and achievement.

We believe that success engenders success and have a positive ‘everyone one succeeds’ approach to working with people and it works!

“Canoeing plus quality youth work delivered by experienced and excellent youth workers facilitates or equals significant change for young people.”

Since 1977, we have delivered work designed to accommodate and attract hard to reach young people, those who have least in the community, with educational and behavioural difficulties, not in education, employment or training, looked after young people, or those living in poverty.

We deliver kayaking and canoeing sessions to a diverse community of people such as; young people and adults with disabilities, LGBTQ+, women’s, ethnic minority, asylum seeker, refugees and young parents.

WAC is a British Canoeing (BC) Quality Mark Centre and sessions are led by BC qualified canoe and kayak coaches who are also highly experienced and professionally trained Youth and Play Workers.