Press Release May 2020
Press Release May 2020
Cotswold Canals Trust Stay Afloat 2020 Appeal for support.
Due to the Covid-19 situation, on Friday 20th March Cotswold Canals Trust had to ask its volunteers to close their Bookshop, the Visitor Centres, batten down the hatches on all four Trip Boats and secure the maintenance depots as it became clear that the pandemic has arrived.
These are really difficult times for everyone, especially those who are isolated and missing their families. Our volunteers are no exception, over 89% are over the age of 70, many of whom have been restoring the canal corridor for decades. Last year they gave the community over 33,700 hours of their time to clear Towpaths, restore bridges, locks and dredge the canal.
With every week that passes, the Charity is losing £2,500 from lack of sales in their Charity Book Shop, Visitor Centres, Log Sales and Trip Boats.
Not content with sitting at home waiting for the Charity Activities to resume, the volunteers and members rallied and in just 4 days, put their own hands in their own pockets and raised over £13,500 (still rising)!
“Lockdown will be covering all your previous valiant clearance with brambles and bindweed. Such a shame and must be cleared quickly again afterwards. I do lineside clearance for the local steam railway and know how disheartening the present situation is.”
Member of Cotswold Canals Trust.
C-19 threatens to undo all the good work of the dedicated volunteers; they need to raise enough money to make sure that the Charity can Stay Afloat. When Lockdown is over, and CCT can safely resume activities, it will need money to buy safety equipment, pay the bills and buy fuel. The maintenance of the restored canal is an expensive business and the Trust spends over £70k a year doing this; largely funded by their retail activities.
Anyone who lives in the Stroud Area has first-hand experience of how the Canal Restoration benefits the community. Getting back to work gives everyone something to look forward to.
To make sure the restoration continues to provide the community with a space where they can connect, reflect and improve their wellbeing please DONATE here, or call Cotswold Canals Trust on 01453 752568 to contribute.
“Happy to help. I’m one of the lucky ones, still working and still getting paid. You have done magnificently in your work so far.”
Cotswold Canals Trust, Volunteer.
Cotswold Canals Trust wishes to thank everyone in the Stroud area for their ongoing support.
The Towpaths have been an issue during Covid-19, many people choose to use them as their regular exercise route and in some places, they are very narrow. As each day passes that our volunteers cannot operate, they will keep getting narrower still! So, the Public are asked for their understanding and patience until Lockdown comes to an end. Please follow the C&RT guidance for Towpaths. https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/safety-on-our-waterways/coronavirus.
