Since launching as a CIC in 2023 to promote accessibility across the inland waterways, we have built strong partnerships and gained recognition across the sector. We were appointed as a Nominating Body on the Canal & River Trust Council and joined both the Environment Agency National Waterways Advisory Group and the Grand Union Water Transfer Scheme consultation group, helping to ensure accessibility is considered in future waterways and towpath developments. We have also worked closely with the Canal &River Trust on the Accessible Moorings project, including the development of a new accessible bollard design that received the CRT Inclusivity Award. Our work has been recognised nationally through nominations for, and receipt of, the CRT National Volunteer of the Year Award 2025. We have strengthened relationships with major organisations, including the Environment Agency, Disability Rights UK, the Residential Boat Owners Association, and the Inland Waterways Association, supporting collaboration, campaigning, and information sharing across the waterways community. Alongside this, we have been actively involved in numerous CRT groups and forums, including Full Council, Boaters’ Representatives meetings, regional and national Boaters’ Forums, Disabled Boaters’ Forums, the Website Accessibility Working Group, and the Boaters’ App Taskforce. We regularly attend site meetings and local events to provide practical accessibility input and advice. We have also expanded our work beyond the waterways sector by opening discussions with senior NHS Care Board representatives regarding healthcare provision for boaters and participating in the All-Party Parliamentary Health Group to raise awareness of the healthcare challenges faced by the boating community. Our engagement with Sustrans, now the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, has further supported conversations around accessible and safe shared routes, beginning with a consultation on improved signage in Gloucester with wider national ambitions. To raise awareness and build support, we have attended major waterways events, including Canalway Cavalcade at Little Venice, Crick Boat Show, and the Braunston Historic Boat Rally. We are also pleased to have secured the support of Sir David Suchet to help promote our work. In addition, we have begun developing a disability and accessibility training manual for staff and volunteers, intending to roll it out across the Canal & River Trust, the Environment Agency, and other waterways authorities in the future.

The company's stakeholders are waterways navigation authorities and boaters. The directors have lived aboard their narrowboat for 12 years and naturally engage in frequent conversations with other boaters as well as with people who enjoy the canals and rivers in every other way. This includes both disabled and non-disabled people. We participate in regular disabled boaters' forums where issues are raised and discussed in a constructive manner. We represent disabled boaters at the regular boaters' reps meetings, CRT council and other appropriate meetings with the Canal & River Trust. This includes participating in APPG for Waterways meetings on relevant topics. Two successful accessible waterways days, one in Birmingham and one in London, have raised awareness of the need to improve accessibility. We are working with CRT to develop the accessible mooring bollard. A trial installation is currently being planned. Our campaign for accessing primary health care has seen us meet with the APPG for Health, where we highlighted the difficulties nomadic boaters (amongst many others) can experience if they cannot provide a postcode within the surgery area.

No remuneration was received

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration