Local and Free for Children &amp; Teenagers

3-7 Third Avenue
London

W10 4RS

The Avenues offer free activities including music production, cooking, creative design, podcasting, school holiday clubs, after school clubs, debate, sports, homework club, youtube channel, judo, diet advice, mentoring, learning courses, socialising, exercising, girl’s only sessions and sporty Saturdays.

Canalside Activity Centre

Canal Close, Ladbroke Grove, London, W10 5AY

Join a fantastic water sports site at Canalside in Ladbroke Grove.

Sessions are for children aged 8 to 18.

Tuesdays & Thursdays 4:30pm & 6:00pm

Child session (low cost annual membership for locals)

Mondays 7:30-8:45 AM

Free Adult Kayaking & Gym Session

Wednesday 5:00-7.30pm

Youth club, we do a range of activities, including cooking, arts and crafts, multisports, and kayaking.

The Roger Diamond Foundation

Find Out More

Supplementary Classes & Saturday Schools

Mastery of Reading & Writing Supplementary reading and writing mastery classes and sessions for 5 to 11-year-olds on Saturday mornings term-time.

Piano/Keyboard Tuition Half-priced video-call piano, jazz and music tuition (midday Monday to Friday only) services are available if you are an RDF member and have a keyboard instrument or piano to practice.

Tailored Support Tailored 1-to-1 tuition and support helping disadvantaged families. Reading Improvement, Maths, Music theory, Jazz theory or Piano lessons. Available in person and via video-call.

Research RDF work with academic researchers in a search to discover educational solutions to social problems in the U.K. and better understand the relevant underlying causes of difficult anti-social issues/problems, such as violent teenage gangs and increasing number of children committing knife crime etc.

Workshops Creative writing workshops in schools, community centres, festivals, or cultural venues.

Public events and productions Public and partnership events are often promoted on this website.

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Westbourne Park Family Centre

Westbourne Park Family Centre
Westbourne Park Baptist Church
Porchester Road
London W2 5DX

Westbourne Park Family Centre was founded in 2003 by Westbourne Park Baptist Church as a charity with a clear mission:

To Support and Strengthen families in the local area, especially those on low incomes.

Dalgarno Supplementary School

Visit their site

Wornington Road, London, W10 5QQ

The Dalgarno supplementary education aims to provide local children and young people with after school English, Maths, Arabic and basic IT to raise the standard of underachievers in a deprived area.
The school runs 5 hours a week on Saturdays throughout the school year at Dalgarno community Centre. DSS also runs a 2 hours maths on Tuesday at supplementary school Resource Centre – Westway.

Little Wormwood Scrubs Adventure Playground

Free of charge

Adventure playgrounds do not (as a rule) charge an entrance fee. This ensures that no child, regardless of economic circumstance, is excluded. However some specialist playgrounds for disabled children levy a charge to cover higher staff ratios and in these days of austerity, some playgrounds have been forced to introduce fees, usually only for those who are able to contribute.

Free to come and go

Adventure playgrounds are (generally) ‘open access’. This means children are free to come and go as they please during opening hours. Again, there are some exceptions – open access usually applies to over 6s only and specialist playgrounds may not operate like this. Open access provision is particularly good at reaching marginalised children, meaning that adventure playground staff are sometimes the only professionals in the lives of vulnerable families.

Free to choose

Adventure playgrounds offer children the opportunity to direct their own play. Free play is how children understand the world around them, how they learn social, conceptual and creative skills. The benefits of free play in childhood – to children, families and communities – continue throughout life, in how we become socially conscious adults, able to relate to and work with others.

Little Scrubs

Dalgarno Gardens

London W10 5LL

W10 5LL

Paddington Arts

Visit their site

For local young people, there are workshops and activities all the way through from 6 years old to 16 plus.

For older users they offer careers advice and guidance, including a network of referrals to potential employers and colleges and unique opportunities to work with professional artists, Choreographers, Theatre and Television Directors, Theatre Designers, Costume Designers – to create new and original work.

Azza Supplementary School

Kensington Aldridge Academy

1 Silchester Road

London

W10 6EX

They are a dedicated non-profit focused on Arabic language education. Through a balanced blend of cultural enrichment and academic growth, they shape confident learners primed to contribute actively to society.
Learning goes beyond textbooks, fostering community, linguistic identity, and a harmonious collective future.

Queen's Park Family Hub

They provide the following services:

health visitors play a critical role in assessing and supporting the mental health and well-being of women and their families. They provide comprehensive care by offering preventative health promotion, delivering targeted support, implementing evidence-based interventions, and making timely referrals to specialist mental health services when necessary
support for both parents with perinatal mental health
midwifery
stay and play sessions: every day
outreach support in the home
health promotion, for example, support to stop smoking
access to a range of support provided by the local voluntary sector
Home Start, Family Centres
parenting groups and one-to-one support.
adult learning, for example, ESOL classes
baby massage and baby zone

The Floating Classroom

They offer imaginative, engaging and fun learning experiences inspired by London’s waterways and green spaces.

Community & School Programs: Most after-school programs, nature clubs, and holiday clubs are completely free thanks to local grant funding.

School Trips: Educational boat trips are subsidized; while some are free, a small donation (e.g., £4) is sometimes requested to cover operational costs.

Mooring

THE FLOATING CLASSROOM
Grand Union Canal, adjacent to Paddington Central, London W2 6NA

Westminster Family Information Service

A free, confidential, and impartial information, advice, and signposting service for children and young people aged 0 to 19 (or up to 25 for those with additional needs), their families, and the professionals who work with them.

The service offers guidance and information about:

nurseries and childminders
funded early education and childcare, and help towards childcare costs
family hubs (children's centres) and library services
careers in childcare: becoming a childminder
out-of-school-hours clubs
activities and services for children, young people, and families.

Queen's Park Gardens

Park Information

Ilbert Street
London
W10 4QL

Queen's Parks Gardens offers something for everyone. Trees, grass areas and a rose garden as well as more active facilities within the park.

Facilities include a well-designed playground, multi-use and free to use ball court, wildlife garden, a specifically designated “dog run” area, and seating.

Brunel Happy Hub

A family hub a short distance from Queen's Park run by a well-loved resident of the Avenues, Happy Lizzy.

The Happy Hub offers:

summer club
serenity lounge
Homeschool self defence
Citizen's Advice Bureau
Sewing with Auntie Angel
yoga for men
Change for Life kids club
and so much more.....

Venture Communication Association

103A Wornington Road W10 5YB

Home to the oldest OFSTED-registered Adventure Playground in the UK, a purpose-built Steel Panyard, and a vibrant Community Centre.

They also offer a diverse range of adult learning programs, healthy living initiatives, and engaging community events.

Adventure Playground: Free, supervised, and Ofsted-registered adventure play for local children aged 5-15. Adventure play and arts and crafts, sports activities, cooking classes, and excursions.
Community Lunch: Hot, healthy meals are served on Wednesdays for just £1.50.
Fitness Classes: Box Fit is available, while classes like Pilates and Yoga Fusion typically cost £2.00 per session.
Special Events: They frequently host entirely free community exhibitions, arts events, and holiday parties.

The Video College

A specialized educational facility located at 1 Thorpe Close in Ladbroke Grove, West London (W10 5XL)

Courses at The Video College (a community-focused media education charity in Ladbroke Grove, West London) are typically free for disadvantaged young people and adults. The college is primarily funded by government grants and aims to redress under-representation in the UK film and media workforce.

Whether a program is completely free depends heavily on your exact age, employment status, and the specific creative course you are applying for:

16-18 Year Olds: Full-time vocational courses and study programs are generally free.
18-24 Year Olds: They frequently run targeted programs (like the Ready to Work in Film initiative) backed by government grants to help diverse talent access the industry.
Adults (19+): Short courses and diploma programs can often be fully funded if you are unemployed, receiving certain benefits, or earn below a specific local income threshold.

Meanwhile Gardens

156-158 Kensal Road London W10 5BN

Meanwhile Gardens is a four-acre community park and urban oasis located in North Kensington, West London. Established in 1976 on a derelict piece of land alongside the Grand Union Canal, it is a volunteer-led green space designed to provide an inclusive sanctuary for local residents.

Community-run wildlife garden including an under-5's drop-in playhut and a wildlife garden. Activities include festivals, carnival weekend, family entertainment, free skatebowl.

Meanwhile Gardens has one of London's oldest skate parks with three interlocking bowls of various sizes, pump bumps, hips, extensions and more. Open to all and free to use. Set within the Gardens on Elkstone Road W10 5NT.

A lush, shady space with a small wildlife pond, diverse wildflowers, a courtyard, and a Moroccan garden. A variety of play ground areas.

West London College

If you will be 16, 17 or 18 years old on 31 August before your course starts, and you have the legal right to live in the UK for the full length of your study programme, your course will be free. You may also be eligible for financial help to support with books, travel, course materials and childcare costs .

Creative Media Production & Technology - Level 2

Full-time 1 year course in Ealing.

Hairdressing & Beauty Therapy - Level 1

Full time 1 year course in Hammersmith and Fulham.

Also including childcare, health and social care, hospitality, science and many others.

Business - Level 1

Full time 1 year course in Hammersmith and Fulham.

Art & Design - Level 1

Full-time 1 year course in Ealing.

Local Libraries

Free book borrowing and free computer use. A great place to do homework in a quiet setting!

Queen's Park Avenue Playgrounds Renovations

Westminster Playground Action Plan 2026-2028

Address:
7a Woodfield Road, London,
W9 2NW,
United Kingdom

CAMHS

CNWL Westminster CAMHS (Central North West London; Westminster, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) provides mental and emotional health specialist services for children and young people up to 18 years old their families and carers.

Visit their site

Advice for Parents About Gangs - English

Advice for Parents About Gangs - Arabic

Talking to your Child about a Violent Incident - English

Talking to your Child about a Violent Incident -Arabic

The N.O.I.S.E. check:

A guide for parents, carers and trusted adults

How to use the tool with young men and boys

N.O.I.S.E. is a simple conversation tool you can use to help young men and boys think critically about the content they consume online. Young people are exposed to huge amounts of online content every day. Some of it can be positive, motivating and genuinely supportive. But some content is designed to keep young men and boys emotionally hooked, often by making them feel angry, insecure or isolated.

Not Free but Affordable, Local Skill Building Groups for Under 18's

St John Ambulance

Cadets

Young people aged 10-17 can join one of our Cadet units, which operate across England and typically meet once a week.

Life saving skills are at the heart of our Cadet programme. There is also the opportunity to use these first aid skills by supporting our adult volunteers at events.

Cadets are given the opportunity to work towards their Grand Prior's Award. As part of the Award, you will be able to take part in a wide range of activities.

Westminster Youth Group Cadet

London District Headquarters, Edwina Mountbatten House, London, Greater London, United Kingdom, W1H 1PS

Day of the week: Wednesday

Age group: Cadet (Ages 10 years - 17 years)

Start time: 18:30

Financial Information

St John Ambulance Badgers costs £12 per month or £144 per year.
The subscription covers:

keeping young people safe
equipment and resources
certificates and badges

There is a separate cost for a Badger uniform.

There may be extra cost for other events like camps and residential courses.

Financial assistance

They want to make as many young people first aid confident as they can, regardless of their financial circumstances. Financial help is available for both subscriptions and Badger uniform.

You can apply for financial assistance during application.

When Badgers join their Sett, their Sett Lead will help you order their uniform online.

Girl Guides

Girl Guides (known as Girl Scouts in the US) is a global youth organisation originally founded in 1910. It provides a safe, fun space for girls and young women to build confidence, learn practical life skills, and take part in adventurous activities like camping and team-building

Subs vary from area to area. This might be down to venue costs, activities, meeting length and additional local costs, amongst other factors. Once you’ve registered your child’s interest in joining, ask your local volunteer team how much subs are for your unit and when they need to be paid. If you’re concerned about costs preventing your daughter from taking part, please speak to your unit leader. They can tell you ways they can help, including a grant.

Rainbows (4-7 years)

Rainbows welcomes all girls from 4 to 7 years old to laugh, learn and have fun in a creative safe space.

Rainbows will laugh, sing and make a happy mess (and help clear it up!) as they choose their way through our programme of activities.

Brownies (7-10 years)

Brownies welcomes all girls from 7 to 10 years old for nonstop fun, learning and adventure.

Brownies is full of firsts: your child might grow their first plant, cook their first cake, put up (and take down) their first tent or go on their first fun-packed weekend away with guiding friends.

Guides (10-14 years)

Guides is a relaxed, welcoming space where you can have fun, learn and be yourself with good friends from 10 to 14 years old.

Think up a new sport, make a new perfume, cook over a campfire, design an advertising campaign, have a mocktail party or raise money for a charity you believe in.

Rangers (14-18 years)

Rangers is your space – where you get together with other girls from 14 to 18 to have fun, learn more, give back, hang out, and just be you.

Rangers is where you can regularly meet up with good friends, go on trips at home and abroad, and help make a difference to the things you care about - it's what you make of it.

Air Cadets - Air Training Corps ATC

The RAF Air Cadets offer 12 to 17 year olds exciting opportunities for personal and professional development. We’re an inclusive organisation that cares about helping young people reach their potential. Every year nearly 43,000 air cadets and 10,000 volunteer staff take part in exciting events at over 1,000 squadrons across the UK. From cyber and space to sports, flying and adventure training - being a cadet means trying new things in a safe environment, making friends along the way and gaining skills for life. Cadets get to experience what it’s like to fly a plane, take part in expeditions, practice target shooting or boost your cyber skills. Monthly subscriptions typically range from £7 to £20. Core activities (flying, gliding, shooting) are included, and uniforms are loaned for free. You only need to purchase specific footwear and potentially cover occasional camp fees.

48F (Hampstead)

Army Reserve Centre, 1 Fitzjohn's Avenue, Hampstead, London, NW3 5LA

Parade days: Monday, Thursday

406 (Willesden)

77 Donnington Road, London, NW10 3QX

Parade days Monday, Thursday

Navy Cadets