Canals for the Community

British Waterways has received funding from the Big Lottery Fund to launch its Canals for the Community project. The project runs for three years and focusses on the Trent & Mersey and Caldon Canals, which run through the heart of Stoke-on-Trent.

The Canals for the Community project aims to increase social inclusion to the canals and create a more vibrant and desirable place for the community to use for leisure and recreation. A broad range of projects are to be delivered, covering the following themes; Conservation & Training, Art & Interpretation and Events & Activities.

Activities which will be taking place under these headings include

• conservation training and task days led by BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers)
• fishing courses and taster days in partnership with SAFE (Stoke Angling For Everyone)
• arts and interpretation activities
• cycling events in partnership with Cyclist Training Ltd and Stoke on Trent City Council
• themed guided walks in partnership with Etruria Industrial Museum & creation of canalside walking map
• a range of volunteer activities, including Towpath Tidies
• community forums
• community booklet

The project will run until June 2011 and has a number of defined outcomes:

• increased voluntary and community group activity along the canal
• greater sense of ownership and pride in canalside communities
• improved spaces and facilities along the canal
• increased physical activity along the canal
• increased community safety along the canal

Free Volunteer Walk Leader Training

The Canals for the Community project has teamed up with the Federation of Stadium Communities to deliver free Volunteer Walk Leader Training. Volunteers who attend the one day course will then be able to lead Health Walks through the 'Walking the Way to Health' Initiative (a joint initiative between Natural England and the British Heart Foundation). The Canals for the Community project is looking to set up regular 'Towpath Trackers' walking groups at various canalside locations throughout Stoke, should you wish to get involved in leading these groups or want to set up your own walking to health group please call Louise on 07827 083538.

More information can also be found here (PDF file 781Kb)