Covid jabs for boaters
A SERIES of Covid vaccination drop-in sessions is being held in conjunction with Cheshire West Council, Canal & River Trust and the North West Waterways Chaplaincy Hub.
These are for boaters to receive either first or second vaccinations or indeed their booster jabs. The sessions are available to all and no booking is required.
Running from 11am-6pm, the next session is on Saturday, May 28 at two venues, initially at the entrance to Uplands Marina and at the Anderton Boat Lift in the CRT car park. Two venues will also be used on Friday, June 10, the first is adjacent to the Riverside Pub at Acton Bridge and the second will be in the Waitrose Car Park adjacent to Northwich Marina.
In addition to this the chaplaincy has been working closely with Michelle Simmonds, the new welfare officer in the north to foster better links between the authorities and CRT to develop awareness regarding the help local authorities can offer boaters.
Senior waterways chaplain Martin Buck from the North West Hub told Towpath Talk: “Cheshire West & Chester Council ( CWAC) contacted the chaplaincy to offer service support for boaters, this being the first. In conjunction with our old friends at Healthwatch and being able to engage with Michelle Simmonds, the recently appointed northern welfare officer for CRT, things have moved quickly on.
“Getting the council interested really galvanised the thinking behind being able to identify the overlooked needs of boaters with the potential of other options and indeed the initiative of asking the boating community what they see as important to themselves by way of direct feedback via a soonto-be published questionnaire. We have discussed the following options: blood pressure checks; mental health support; social care subscribers; financial awareness and support.”
Martin added: “Michelle is starting dialogue with Lancashire Council which can only be good news for boaters. By opening up the accessibility and awareness of service items it is hoped that boaters get better support and the recognition that this oftenforgotten community gets the support when needed by opening up the communication channels and enabling direct dialogue between the right people and making the boating community feeling recognised, when bureaucracy sometimes handicaps responses.”