We are looking for staff
The Sharks are looking for people to teach and coach canoeing at all of our sites. We maybe able to help you get the relevant qualifications, whilst you work for us. Get in touch email: canoeing@thesharks.org.uk, or call: 07951 770241.
Who are we?
We are the fastest growing canoe club in the UK, we are a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, which teaches, coaches and supports athletes at a number of sites in London.
We pay all of our coaches, entry level teachers are currently paid £18 per hour, which increases with experience and time. When you join us you become a member of the team and have a say in how the Club is run and how we develop.
- We teach PE lessons in schools
- Run after-school clubs
- Regular sessions for our members
- Race Marathon, Slalom, Sprint, and Wild Water
- Host events
- And much more
What can you offer us?
We need enthusiastic staff, who are committed to delivering an enjoyable experience at all levels.
- You maybe the one who starts off with the basics, teaching beginners, laying the foundations of what is to come
- Perhaps you are the person who will deliver training to our elite athletes – Marathon, Slalom, Sprint, or Wild Water Racing.
- Or do you fit somewhere in-between?
- Maybe you will move around and do different sessions at different times?
We are looking for the right people, if you have qualifications great, if not we can help you gain them. The Sharks dare to be different, do you?
At present we need staff at:
Thamesmead
The Thamesmead project is probably one of the most exciting canoeing and kayaking projects in the UK at the moment. A blank canvass for us to create something very special. We are based at the Boat House, Bazalgette Way, SE2 9TX.
We have a facility which will be the envy of Clubs everywhere, or own club house, storage and Southmere Lake and we are investing heavily in the project to ensure that this becomes know as a centre of excellence (like all our centres).
We will need teachers at a variety of times of day, as we will be running daytime and evening sessions, as well as weekends, so plenty of opportunities.
Did we mention: We are the Talk of Thamesmead.
West London
Where it all began, we have a number of sites in West London, you can teach at one or more of them, they are all different, but the thing that links them is the fun and the quality we deliver.
Southall
One of the most vibrant and diverse communities in the World and it is proving to be a powerhouse for developing young raw talent. Can you be the inspiration for the next generation of Shark Paddlers?
At Southall we concentrate on flat water canoeing, we do this in partnership with local schools, where we have contracts to deliver PE lessons between Easter and October half-term, during the Winter months we have the opportunity to run and organise land based activities as well as Weeknd sessions (we are investigating flood-lighting for evening sessions during the Winter).
As well as the PE lessons, we deliver after-school clubs and club sessions, we also host the Southall Super Sprints at this location based at Three Bridges School UB2 4GG. This site has fantastic potential and we are looking a not just developing the paddling, but working with local schools to deliver some first class facilities in the long-term, you will have the opportunity to be part of that process.
There is also another nearby site being developed at the Green Quarter in Southall, so again plenty of opportunities and hours available.
Harlesden
Our site in NW10 has plenty of potential, we run after school clubs and racing sessions here as well as beginners sessions. Our partnerships with local organisations and companies is providing huge opportunities to expand what we offer at this site and we want somebody who wants to help us create a project that delivers even more than we already do.
The facilities are limited, but we are in a long-term partnership with regeneration teams and they are delivering real change for us and for the local area, so who knows what you can achieve?
Great Harlesden Canoe Race 
Great Harlesden Canoe Race 
Picture by Simon Annand 
Osterley Park
This site is very different to our other operations, but it is very important to us and the community it serves. Based in the National Trust property, we use exclusively sit-on-top kayaks for recreational purposes, at weekends and school holidays, However, we also host PE sessions for schools that have youngsters with special needs. Many of our staff here also work at Southall as it is in close proximity, the address is Jersey Road, TW7 4RB.
Harefield
Harefield is the home to our slalom and Wild Water Racing teams. Our slalom team is led by a very experienced coach, whom is always happy to help aspiring coaches as well as paddlers, so you can learns a lot whilst working here.
As well as our permanent white water slalom course, we have access to the canal and a lake, which we should make more use of for running course etc.
Harefield is another site which has huge potential, we have access to the facilities of Rickmansworth Sailing Club, including their clubhouse. It is very different from our other sites in that we can offer so much more than we already do, we just need the right person to unlock the potential.
The Sharks know no limits, we are so much more than just a canoe club, we are a community, get involved, call us on 07951 770241, or email canoeing@thesharks.org.uk.
Published 30th November 2025