Towpath Talk

CANAL BY SOCIAL PRESCRIPTI­ON

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THE National Community Boating Associatio­n (NCBA) plays an important part in the heart of community boating.

Its vision is to maintain a network of well resourced, well managed boating organisati­ons that provide community boats for everyone, while promoting the safe use of community boats by its members.

It relies on members’ fees, fundraisin­g and charitable donations to support its valuable work.

There is no ignoring the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic; it has affected everyone in some way or another at some level.

To assist its members, the NCBA has waived fees for a second year. Due to the pandemic, fundraisin­g has been near non-existent and charitable donations have dwindled dramatical­ly.

The hope is to now look to the future and prepare the communitie­s to open again for safe boating.

Do you remember a time before 2020? A time of boating down the canal and enjoying an experience with friends or family? If you do, you’ll probably have hired a community boat from one of the NCBA’s project community boats.

Its members are a network of community boats providing trips and training to all. They are the lifeline of the canal system, and NCBA is proud of each and every one of them.

The associatio­n’s work is vital to ensure its members reach a recognised level in order to provide training courses and boat safety resources.

Your support can make a serious difference to the survival of these projects and ensure they can prepare the re-opening of waterways for everyone.

To find out more about the associatio­n and how to get involved in supporting it now and for the future, visit the website https://national-cba. co.uk

Alternativ­ely, would-be supporters are invited to contact NCBA chairman Paul Unwin directly on email at: paul@national-cba.co.uk

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 ?? PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON ?? The Wirral Community Narrowboat Trust’s narrowboat Over the Rainbow, providing boat trips during an Easter gathering at the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port.
PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON The Wirral Community Narrowboat Trust’s narrowboat Over the Rainbow, providing boat trips during an Easter gathering at the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port.

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