Wheelyboat Services wins Queen’s Award
OVERWATER Marina’s Wheelyboat Services team has been awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
It was the brainchild of Audlem residents Rodney Cottrell and Michael Harthern who, along with a team of volunteers, set about raising £30,000 for a custom-built wheelyboat designed to carry disabled passengers.
By securing the support of the Wheelyboat Trust, as well as many other sponsors such as Comic Relief, Cheshire Community Action, Ableworld and individual contributors within the local village, the Maughan Lass was launched in 2015.
Based at Overwater Marina, owned by the Maughan family, the 17ft boat is specially designed for people with mobility issues, allowing roll on/roll off access for wheelchairs.
This has meant that local disabled children and adults have been able to enjoy trips around the marina and along the Shropshire Union Canal, enjoying the wildlife and countryside of Cheshire. Since its launch, the wheelyboat has carried some 1500 people.
In early 2017, the team identified a need for a means to transport people from their homes and care homes to the boat and the Overwater Wheelybus Project was born. Rodney and the team set about the task of raising more than £35,000 to purchase a minibus suitable for carrying wheelchairs and less able passengers.
The bus also now works with local community groups transporting disabled passengers to hospital and other appointments.
A not-for-profit voluntary service, both the boat and bus depend completely on volunteers.
Wheelyboat Services president and Overwater Marina owner Dr Janet Maughan said: “I am delighted and immensely proud to announce that the group is to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
“The people who have made this happen are beyond special – as volunteers they have no measured value, not because it is difficult to measure their worth but because they are priceless.”
The Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, David Briggs, said: “I hope to be able to present this well-deserved award to all the volunteers in the near future and I thank each of them for all that they do.”