Sustainable boating awards launch
Champions of greener boating are sought for the IWA/ Towpath Talk Sustainable Boating Award.
TOWPATH Talk and the Inland Waterways Association have joined forces to launch an exciting new award scheme recognising the pioneers of sustainable boating.
In a world of climate change and energy crisis, there is a common consensus that new and pioneering ideas, strategies, projects, technology and infrastructure must be investigated, explored and implemented. We all have a duty of care to the planet and we at Towpath Talk recognise this, as do our readers, and certainly the IWA.
This is why we are backing the award scheme and want to encourage our readers, contributors and advertisers alike to get their thinking caps on and make nominations for the awards – we want the brightest and best contributions to sustainable boating to be recognised, however large or small they may be.
It’s not the size of the project that matters – it’s the intention and results behind it.
With the above in mind, entries or nominations are now being sought in respect of individuals and organisations or businesses deemed to have made the most valuable contribution during the previous calendar year.
Nominations and entries
There are two categories for the awards:
Group one: Non-commercial – this category is for individuals or groups representing charity or community organisations.
Group two: Commercial – this category is for waterway-related businesses.
Judging panel and criteria
The judging panel will be made up from three separate bodies; those being one or more individuals from Towpath Talk, the IWA and an independent representative from the waterways community – no single body shall have a majority.
In terms of criteria, the award will be made to the category winners which, in the opinion of the judging panel, have made the greatest contribution to making inland waterways boating more sustainable in the previous calendar year.
Submissions
In the first instance, send your written nomination (not exceeding 750 words – and up to three photographs may be included) via email to: IWATTsustainable. awards@waterways.org.uk
The closing date for entries/ nominations will be July 1, 2024, after which these will be publicised.
The awards will be judged by a panel comprising representatives of the IWA, Towpath Talk and the waterways community. The winners will be announced at a presentation event later in the year.
The Sustainable Boating Group is a small group of IWA members, experienced boaters, owning a wide range of leisure craft, who are passionate about ensuring that leisure boating is sustainable into the future. It published its Vision Paper in November 2020 and IWA’s Green Boating Guide in 2022 as well as a range of articles for inland waterways publications and presentations at Crick Boat Show and to other interested parties. For further information and to download IWA’s Guide to Greener Boating visit www. waterways. org. uk/ campaigns/ sustainable-boating