Stores team up with community boat Electra
TENANTS from sheltered housing in Bletchley, for people living with dementia, were recently treated to a canal boat cruise thanks to the generosity of the John Lewis Partnership.
Jane Wolfson from the all-electric community boat Electra said: “We are delighted that John Lewis and Waitrose are sponsoring five cruises, which allow members of the local community the chance to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the Grand Union Canal in Milton Keynes.”
Elaine Wales, community liaison co-ordinator from the John Lewis Partnership, said it was a pleasure to be able to work closely with volunteers from the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway Trust, to provide canal trips for tenants of local care homes, Flowers House and Courtney’s Lodge. “This was made possible as part of our Give a Little Love community funding programme. It is heart-warming to see the residents really enjoying a trip on Electra.”
Activities co-ordinator Laura Few, from Flowers House, agreed: “Our tenants really look forward to cruises on Electra. The boat has a wheelchair lift, so we can take someone who wouldn’t normally be able to access a cruise on a canal boat.”
Electra runs a sponsorship scheme for organisations willing to fund sponsored cruises for groups in the Milton Keynes community that, for whatever reason, would not normally be able to access cruises on the canal.
Local companies that would like to join the sponsorship scheme are invited to contact Electra on electra@bmkwaterway.org