Welcome to Viking Kayak Club Membership Page

Applicants must have completed an introductory session or a full beginner's course and been approved by the session coach before joining the club.

If you have any questions about membership, please email the Membership Secretary.

Membership

Annual membership is for twelve months from the date you join:

1. Family; One or two adults & any children (either under the age of 18 or in full-time education) living at the same address
2. Adult; 23 and over
3. Young Member; Between 18 - 22
4. Youth; Under 18 (minimum age currently 8)
5. Student; Over 18 & in full-time education
6. Senior Citizen; Over 65
7. Friend of VKC;  Non-Paddler with links to the club
8. Guest Paddler Registration (Adhoc); this is free and intended for paddlers joining a course or introductory session so we have your medical and emergency information on file. A fee is charged to join club activities, but this will be deducted from your membership fee should you decide to join. 

Paddlers with existing links to the club who no longer live in the local area may apply for Distance Membership. Membership fee will be 50% of the applicable rate. Please email the Membership Secretary.

Other concessionary fees are available for those on low incomes on application to the Membership Secretary (see details at the bottom of this page).

Boat rack fee is £73.50. We have a waiting list for spaces; click here to apply

Courses

You can apply to join a course from this page. Each course on offer appears in the menu as a 'membership'

Taster Sessions & Swimming Pool Sessions

Try-before-you-buy. By arrangement only.

Short video showing how to sign up

You can buy up to 6 Taster/Day-Paddling sessions. After that, we ask that you join the club.

Fees:

Guest Paddle (per session) with own kit: £6.75

Guest Paddle (per session) using club kit: £13.50

Under 18s

A responsible adult must complete application for Youth membership. Contact details for that adult must be submitted in the application

Equipment

The membership fees include the use of club equipment, but priority must be given first to Viking courses, and then to beginners to allow them time to learn about equipment and acquire their own. All members are expected to paddle using their boats and equipment after a reasonable time.

Access to more advanced equipment e.g. polo, racing, slalom boats and open canoes is also available as part of the membership, subject to availability.

Membership waitlists

From time to time Viking has a 'waitlist' for those wishing to join. This is most likely to apply to beginners, children and/or those without their own boat & equipment This is because although the club has excellent kit available for the use of beginners, numerous coaches and many adult paddlers who are willing to supervise, these are all finite resources and Viking must ensure that the needs of existing members are met first. Sometimes, therefore, demand is still greater than we can meet and we apologise for any disappointment if you have to add your name to a 'waitlist'. We will let you know when we will be able to accept you.

Competent, adult paddlers with their own boat & kit are the easiest new members to accommodate and we welcome any existing/former paddlers and coaches who wish to get back into paddling or take their paddling to the next level!

Changing Room Policy

Our changing rooms, which are single-sex, are used by both Star and VKC members, often at the same time, and by both adults and juniors,  again often at the same.  We do not currently provide 'supervision' in the changing rooms.  Parents/carers should be aware of this and, in allowing children in their care to use the club's changing rooms, will be deemed to have done so in full knowledge and understanding of this fact.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

I’m not sure but I want to have a go... How do I start?

Email the Membership Secretary, they will put you in touch with one of our coaches who will get you onto the water.

But I don’t have a boat or any equipment... Can you loan me some?

Viking has boats and equipment for the use of members as you learn more about paddling and figure out what boat is right for you. Priority for boats etc. has to be with students on Viking courses first but after that beginners have first call on our training fleet so that they can learn before buying their own kit.

What about training... Do you run courses for beginners?

We run regular courses on the river in Spring / Summer. We also run pool sessions in the winter. 

I haven’t got the membership fee... Are there any other ways to pay?

We offer quarterly direct debits but, as this creates work applicants, will be asked to explain the reason for their request.  Opting to pay quarterly for convenience rather than financial hardship will not be accepted.  Email the Membership Secretary - your request will be passed to the committee.

I want to try something more exciting... What is available to the experienced paddler?

We organise frequent trips to white water and surfing venues in Wales, Scotland and the North of England. We also have lots of club boats for polo, racing, slalom and open canoeing which might interest you. And we run sessions in all sorts of different disciplines.

How safe is all this... Don’t you have to have qualifications?

All our coaches are trained to British Canoeing level or equivalent and have the requisite qualifications. Many of our club paddlers have also taken extra qualifications such as safety and rescue (FSRT, WWSR or CST) and first aid courses. All members are encouraged to attend the courses.

We also constantly monitor the risks along the river and teach risk awareness as part of our courses.

Parking, Clubhouse etc Can I park in the club car park?

To use the car park a valid sticker needs to be shown in the vehicle. Stickers can be obtained from the Membership Secretary, Chairperson and Treasurer for £6 They are valid for the calendar year (e.g. 2026)

There is an agreement between Viking and Star about the car park. Viking's Wednesday club night and Star's Thursday club night are protected and members will be asked to respect car parking priorities of members of the other club on respective nights.

Viking & Star Club members can park in the Prebend Street car park at no charge after 6pm on weekdays & at all times at weekends.

You must display a valid VKC car park sticker or you will be fined. It's a pay & display car park; other people pay per visit. 

There is a height barrier at the entrance so watch out when you have boats on the roof. You can walk under the road bridge & launch onto the river from the bank opposite the clubhouse.

Can I get a key fob to get into the changing room?

Yes. £10 deposit (BACS transfer).  Email the Membership Secretary who will order you a fob

I can’t afford the membership - do you have concessionary fees?
Means-tested concessionary fees are available. Please email the Membership Secretary. Membership fee will be 50% of the applicable rate

Requirements are as follows. Other criteria may be considered.
- Universal Credit - universal credit award notice
- Income Support - booklet from jobcentre stating the benefit, name & address
- Incapacity Benefit - booklet or current letter from Jobcentre stating the benefit, name &  address
- Pension Tax Credit - current letter from the tax credit office
- Severe Disability Allowance - current letter from the government proving that you are receiving the benefit
- Disability Living Allowance - current letter from the government proving that you are receiving the benefit 
- War pensioner - letter of eligibility from the military
- Working Tax Credit - current letter from JobCentre Plus with proof of your name, address & type of allowance you are receiving