Waterways Partnerships not included
THE Canal & River Trust (CaRT) has excluded its Waterways Partnerships from a project that will will include taking 30 youngsters from an inner city area from London to Stratford-upon-Avon by narrowboat writes Allan Richards.
The ‘Stratford 2 Stratford' arts project will take 30 teenagers from Stratford, East London to Stratford-upon-Avon for the Stratford River Festival where they will perform 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.
Disadvantaged youngsters
As someone who has worked with disadvantaged youngsters and adults for over 30 years and been a volunteer helmsman on a community boat giving a ‘waterways experience' to disadvantaged children for almost 10, I applaud this project. However, I am dismayed to learn that London Waterways Partnership and West Midlands Waterways Partnership have played no part in it and there are no plans to involve Partnerships in a similar event linking Birmingham and Manchester next year.
What are Waterway Partnerships for if not to fund and deliver projects like this which will be of benefit to both the waterways, local communities and individuals?
Springboard
Here is a very simple suggestion.
Why not use this project as a springboard such that Waterways Partnerships fund and operate community boat schemes in inner city areas for the disadvantaged. Initially, start-up funding could come from CaRT's central ‘pathfinder' scheme with Partnerships taking increasing responsibility for funding.
A real benefit for individuals, local communities and a travelling advertisement for Waterways Partnerships!
Details of Stratford 2 Stratford can be found at: