Finances stop charity boat

A CHARITY narrowboat that was launched in 1988 by Prince Charles has reached the end of its working life and is being withdrawn from service.

The narrowboat Venturer was launched to enable trips to be giving to elderly and disabled people in and around Oxford, on both the Oxford Canal and the Thames since 1988, Alan Tilbury tells us.

It was often used by local special needs schools and care homes, being specially adapted with a hoist, wheelchair access  and a disabled toilet and shower.

Lack of finances

But after 26 years of service, the lack of finances means that the Oxfordshire Narrowboat Charitable Trust can no longer afford to run Venturer, so it is being withdrawn from operation.

There are various things that need money, they all adding up, until the time has come when it is not longer feasible to operate the boat. Having to increase the charges to the homes whose patients use the boat meant the homes themselves could no longer afford it