Charity is aiming to raise £110,000 to buy new boat
A CHARITY that takes people for day trips along the River Soar is looking to raise £110,000 to buy another boat.
The Baldwin Trust’s two vessels, the St Clare and Dandelion, are 30 and 40 years old respectively and are becoming increasingly expensive to run.
The volunteers who run the charity say a new boat will also be more reliable, so fewer trips will end up being cancelled.
The St Clare and Dandelion are being refitted at Pillings Lock Marina, in Quorn, in preparation for the summer season.
The charity provides trips for elderly people living in care homes; disabled people, children in care and children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The fund-raising project is called “Put a foot in the water for the Baldwin Trust”.
Baldwin Trust secretary Alasdair Macintyre said: “Our volunteers are desperately trying to raise funds to place an order for a new boat.
“Even if we can raise the funding in the next three months to place an order, we will not get our new boat until 2019.
“We have raised half of the required funds for the new boat and are applying for more grants and donations.
“We are also implementing a major refurbishment programme for our two boats because, if we fail to take action now, we believe that 2018 will see a continuing heavy drain on our valuable financial resources, due to repair costs.
“Trying to keep our aging boats operational pushes the possibility of attaining our new boat further away from reality.”
Anyone who can help is asked to e-mail Mr Mcintyre at: secretary@baldwintrust.co.uk