In 2009 a number of local Clubs came together with Canoe England to discuss splitting the London and South East Region into two. There were two main reasons for the split: Firstly, so that Canoe England and the BCU can access central government money that is ring fenced for organisations that can show they work in all regions (especially as London is split into 5 Sport Active zones, unlike any other region) and secondly because London has some unique issues that have arisen due to its geographical location and size of population. Canoe England had previously been split into ten regions. However, in November 2009 the BCU agreed that the London & South East Region was able to split into two and an 11th, new region “London” was formed. Prior to this an open meeting was held where a small, Temporary Regional Committee was elected. The job of this Temporary Committee has been to formalise the Region and set up open and transparent elections (being held on Monday 5th July at 7pm at the Stoke Newington West Reservoir Centre). As such the Temporary Committee have met regularly to organize and publisice the elections and draw up a draft Development Plan, which will give the newly elected committee a basis to work from. They have been supported in this work by the London PDO, Clive Whitton. Once elected the new Regional Committee will initially need to complete the formation of the Regional and will then need to meet two or three times a year to organise Regional issues. They will also be able to send a representative to the English Development Team.
The members of the Regional Committee are all volunteers and are keen to help all paddlers in any way possible. The volunteers encourage clubs, (and also themselves) to organise a variety of events, competitions and coaching courses for both the newcomers and more experienced paddlers aimed at expanding the sport of canoeing and encouraging membership of the BCU. They develop and manage local facilities of national importance and even buy land to enable Access to important rivers. They provide a local forum for debate, both of policy and action, sending a representative (usually the chair) to the English Development Team (EDT) meetings (formerly NDT) who are responsible for the promotion of canoeing in England, and represents the interests of the English paddler on the Federal Committee (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), the BCU Council and the Commonwealth Canoeing Federation. They represent the interest of canoeists to third parties such as the Sports Council, Sports Aid Foundation, and Environment Agency, sitting on a wide variety of consultative committees.
BCU members are automatically members of the region for the address they give on their membership application or renewal form. Members may elect to be members of another region instead by indicating this on their membership form. The Regional Committee will be elected annually by members of the Region.
The BCU takes responsibility for the overall administration of canoe sport at an International level, coordination of the competition structures, governance of UK representative teams, responsibility of the BCU coaching scheme and coordination of the federal union. It consists of four constituent home nations: Canoe England; Canoe Association of Northern Ireland; Scottish Canoe Association; Welsh Canoeing Association. The home nations develop specific initiatives in participation, competition, access and facilities.