Think tightrope walking's for wimps? Why not try the ultimate test in balance - slacklining - this weekend in Isleworth.
The pursuit, in which participants must stay aloft on a thin strip of loosely stretched fabric, is one of several sports on offer at the BridgeLink Centre on the Ivybridge Estate this Saturday (October 11).
Taster sessions in boxing, street dance, football, martial arts and self defence will also be available at the community centre in Summerwood Road from midday to 4pm.
The event is being held to promote Connecting Communities, a programme of weekly sport and fitness sessions for people of all ages running on the estate until the end of July next year.
Sport Impact is organising the activities to help those living on one of Hounslow's most deprived estates get healthy at the same time as getting to know their neighbours.
The non-profit organisation has received about £20,000 from the Youth Sport Trust and People's Health Lottery to offer sports workshops and fitness bootcamps at the centre.
A number of people have already been attending martial arts and multi-sport classes since the initiative was launched last month but Hannah Plews, who manages the scheme, wants more people to get involved.
"We want to give everyone on the estate the chance to get involved in sports or physical activities which they might not otherwise have the chance to try," she said.
"We also hope this will help bring people from different communities on the estate together and help them make new friends."
Anyone aged five or above can get involved in the various sports taking place, and those aged 14 to 25 can train to become young leaders.
As well as boosting their confidence and giving them new skills, the hope is that training up these young people will ensure sport continues to thrive on the estate once the programme is over.
Different sports will be available at weekly sessions, running in blocks of two months, between now and the end of July.
* For more information, visit the 'Connecting Communities Project' Facebook Page, email hplews@sportimpact.co.uk or call Hannah Plews on 0754 5644 436
FULL PROGRAMME
(Subject to change. All events take place in the BridgeLink Centre hall unless stated)
OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 2014
Slacklining: Saturdays, 1.30pm-2.30pm (outside BridgeLink Centre)
Self-defence: Tuesdays, 8pm-9pm
DECEMBER 2014 AND JANUARY 2015
Hip hop street dance: Saturdays, 11am-midday
Non-contact boxing: Thursdays, 7.30pm-8.30pm
FEBRUARY AND MARCH 2015
Football: Thursdays, 6.30pm-8.30pm (outside court cages)
Martial arts: Tuesdays, 8pm-9pm
APRIL AND MAY 2015
Bootcamp fitness: times TBC (outside BridgeLink Centre)
Self-defence: Tuesdays, 8pm-9pm
JUNE AND JULY 2015
Non-contact boxing: Thursdays, 7.30pm-8.30pm
Hip hop street dance: Saturdays, 1.30pm-2.30pm
