Member Article

Canal boat trips for people with disabilities get cash boost

A charity dedicated to providing facilities for disabled people and people with special needs to enjoy boating on the river has received £1,000 cash boost from a leading housebuilder.

CanalAbility!, based in Harlow, was awarded the cash as part of Persimmon Homes’ Community Champions scheme where charities and groups can apply for funding up to the value of £1,000 to match money they have already raised themselves.

The cash donation means the charity can carry out fundamental maintenance work to its specially adapted canal boats.

The organisation, established almost 30 years ago, is dedicated to providing affordable canal boat holidays and day trips for people with disabilities, their families, friends and other disability charities and community groups.

Doreen Goodall, from the charity, said: “Our objective is to provide disability access canal boats on The River Stort and its donations like this that help us continue our work.

“We now operate three fully-adapted and accessible canal boats and provide boat trips and holidays to about 3000 people each year.

“With age and frequent use, our boats’ facilities need constant attention. The money will go towards refitting the specially adapted toilet facilities on the boats.

“As a not-for-profit charity, we depend on donations, grants and sponsorship to keep our charges to users as low as possible. We also rely greatly on a large team of volunteers to skipper and crew our day trips and to supplement the work of our staff.

We’re very grateful to Persimmon Homes Essex for this fantastic donation.“

Phil Standen, managing director for Persimmon Homes Essex said: “What a fantastic cause – a real Community Champion. This is exactly what our Community Champions scheme is all about, supporting good causes to make a positive change in the areas we work and live. We’re thrilled to be able to offer our support.

The Persimmon Community Champions initiative is a national programme. Each of Persimmon Homes’ 30 business regions has two awards of up to £1,000 to handout each month.

Phil added: “We’ve made it really simple to apply for funding, and we’re urging groups and charities to apply for next month’s donations by completing an online form on our website, at www.persimmonhomes.com/charity

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Natalie Moore .