Businesses urged to sponsor charity’s community boats
AN EXCITING new initiative linking commercial organisations with the Leicestershire-based community boats run by the Baldwin Trust was officially launched in March under the banner Project Waterside.
The charity, which provides cruises on the River Soar, hit on the idea of appealing to commercial and other organisations to sponsor boat trips for those in need.
The sponsorship can range from £200 for a single four-hour trip up to £3000 for 15 four-hour trips. The package includes community transport.
Speaking during the official launch at Leicester Marina the chairman Mike Mcloughlin said that the trust had been providing community narrowboat trips for nearly
40 years and during the last three years had managed to replace and improve its two 70ft narrowboats which are specially equipped with disability amenities.
“Now that this has been completed the trust wishes to take a new direction,” said Mike.
“We are working on this new initiative with local businesses, charitable organisations and individuals to provide direct community support and reach a wider range of local people.”
He added that more people than ever are needing help in these difficult times and through this initiative community groups, nominated local families affected by the pandemic and local Covid-19 heroes can enjoy a free, relaxing narrowboat cruise, including transport to the boats.
“We hope this will not only enhance their well-being but help them forget their daily struggles for a few hours and create some happy memories,” said Mike.
One of the boats, Dandelion, is based at Pillings Lock Marina while Halseyon Days is moored at Leicester Marina.
Both can carry up to 12 passengers and are wheelchair and mobility friendly with ramps, hydraulic lifts, spacious cabins and toilets, galley kitchen and radiators for heating on cool days.
Only one group booking per boat per day is taken so there is no sharing with other people or groups.
The new venture could mean an extra 50 trips per season bringing the total to around 120 for the two boats.
“We have been a victim of our own success,” said Mike, who said manning the boats was the next problem to be solved.
“We have 70 volunteers but we need at least another 30,” said Mike.
“We also need more qualified skippers and crew especially now we are planning to have another boat built.”
It is hoped that the new boat will be wider than a narrowboat and the trust is currently looking at eco-friendly methods of propulsion.
Anyone interested in volunteering should contact www.baldwintrust. co.uk
Those wishing to sponsor a cruise should contact sponsoring@ baldwintrust.co.uk
For information about receiving a sponsored cruise contact pwcruise@baldwintrust.co.uk