Trust's 'coronavirus' appeal raised £31,500

THE Canal & River Trust's appeal to raise money to support small waterway-based charities raised £31,500.

The appeal was to raise money to support the small waterway charities losses during the coronavirus lockdown, when everything came to a standstill, their income drastically reduced, putting the services that they offer at risk.

Shared amongst 43 charities

The Trust has been able to award £31,500 in grants shared across 43 local charities based on inland waterways in England and Wales. 

Sue Wilkinson, Canal & River Trust Trustee of the grants panel, explained:

“These very local charities do invaluable work—providing people with opportunities in life where, and when, it is needed the most—from helping tackle loneliness and dementia, to supporting disadvantaged children and young people in many different communities across the country.

“We are very grateful to everyone who has contributed to the Waterways Charity Appeal. It is thanks to you that we have been able to give some support to a number of small charities at this very difficult time.  The Trust is pleased to be able to match the personal contributions made.”

The charities benefiting

The charities benefiting from a Waterways Charity Appeal, each receiving a grant of £500 or £1,500, are:

Angel Community Canal Boat Trust, London

Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust, Newport Pagnell

Birmingham and Northamptonshire Guide Narrowboat, Birmingham

Bury Water Meadows Group, Bury

Canal Connections CIC, Leeds

CanalAbility, Harlow

Chelmer Canal Trust, Chelmsford

Cotswold Boatmobility, Stonehouse

Crusader Community Boating, Northampton

Dartford Cambira Sea Scout Group, Dartford

Dockland Scout Project, London

East Manchester Community Boat Project, Manchester

Heulwen Trust, Welshpool

Hillingdon Narrowboats Association, Uxbridge

Humber Aid CIO, Hull

Islington Boat Club, London

Leeds & Liverpool Canal Society, Skipton

London Narrow Boat Project, Braunston

Merseyside Water Rescue, Liverpool

Northumberland Rivers Trust, Birkenhead

Overwater Wheelyboat Services, Crewe

Pocklington Canal Amenity Society, Pocklington

Shropshire Union Flyboat Restoration Society, Altrincham

Somali Community Parents Association, Leicester

Stourbridge Navigation Trust, Stourbridge

Sunbury and Walton Unit 327 of the Sea Cadet Corps, Shepperton

Swansea Canal Society, Swansea

Tameside Canal Boat Trust, Manchester

Thames and Kennet Narrowboat Trust, Mortimer, Berkshire

The Baldwin Trust, Shepshed, Leicestershire

The Beatrice Charity, Leek

The Ethel Trust, Sheffield

The Hargreaves Narrowboat Trust, Nuneaton

The Pirate Castle, London

The Straford upon Avon Narrowboat Trust, Kenilworth

The Wheelyboat Trust, Petworth, W.Sussex

Truman Enterprise Narrowboat Trust, Walsall

Wakefield District Scouts, Wakefield

Water Adventure Centre, Greater Manchester

Waterways Experiences, Hemel Hempstead

Wildside Activity Centre, Wolverhampton

Wirral Community Narrowboat Trust, Newcastle

Worcester Birmingham & Droitwich Canal Society, Droitwich

The appeal was supported by hundreds of donors with the Canal & River Trust match funding public donations—including Trust chief executive, Richard Parry, who donated 20% of his salary for the first three months of the year.