INVITATION TO ATTEND ‘TOWARDS ACCESSIBLE WATERWAYS’ EVENT

31 October 2023

INVITATION TO ATTEND ‘TOWARDS ACCESSIBLE WATERWAYS’ EVENT

The Canal & River Trust and the Accessible Waterways Association are hosting an event, in Birmingham on 2 December 2023, dedicated to accessibility and the waterways.

To coincide with the United Nations International Day of People with Disabilities, the ‘Towards Accessible Waterways’ event recognises and celebrates all those who are working to make the inland waterways more accessible for everybody. The day is aimed at anyone who has or cares about accessibility needs, including boaters, walkers and wheelers on the towpaths, and others who want to enjoy the inland waterways in any manner.

Towards Accessible Waterways

10:30am – 6:00pm, 2 December 2023
Trefoil House, 2 Ellis Street, Birmingham, B1 1HL

Tickets are available via Eventbrite

The main programme commences at 11:00am with Tracey Clarke, founder of the Accessible Waterways Association and the self-styled ‘blind boater’, giving a brief talk outlining the day.

Keynote speaker Paralympian kayaker Rob Oliver headlines the agenda of speakers. From the Trust, there’ll be an interview with national towpath advisor Dick Vincent, and Matthew Symonds, head of customer service support, will be sharing concept designs for an “Accessible Mooring Bollard” being developed in consultation with disabled boaters. Speakers from the Waterways Chaplaincy and Marie Curie complete the formal presentations, and Liz Humphreys will talk about having a new boat bespoke built for her accessibility needs.

The agenda allows plenty of time to mingle, chat and investigate stall holders exhibiting how they are working towards making our inland waterways as accessible as possible. There will be time for Q&A, informal discussion, and feedback, and a buffet lunch will be provided.

Matthew Symonds, head of customer service support at the Canal & River Trust, said: “The inland waterways are for everyone, and we want to remove the barriers that may prevent people from enjoying them. We’re working with our Disabled Boaters’ Forum to start making the waterways more accessible and have supported the creation of the independent Accessible Waterways Association.

“Our recent Boater Census indicated that there is a higher percentage of boaters than in the general population who identify as disabled, showing that being disabled doesn’t have to be a barrier to enjoying the waterways, but also highlighting that the need for appropriate access is even more important. We’re delighted to be co-hosting this event with the Accessible Waterways Association to showcase how together we’re working towards accessible waterways for all.”

Tracey Clarke, founder of the Accessible Waterways Association, said: “We are very proud and excited to be staging this day. It will be a good mix of exhibitors and speakers, plus plenty of time to chat, socialise, ask questions, and make suggestions. We are also delighted to have found this wonderful brand new totally accessible venue with excellent facilities and to support another charity by hiring it.

“The event is all about the (surprising to some) fact that people of all abilities want and need to enjoy the canals and rivers of the UK. The waterways offer some superb environments that really do ‘make life better by water’, to coin the Trust’s catchphrase. We all want to feel safe and able to draw upon this important source of peace and wellbeing. Progress is being made to facilitate this for those less agile, but there is a lot of room for further improvement. The AWA has been formed to strive toward these improvements and further progress. This includes finding ways to work with and around the important heritage challenges of such an historic network. We are really looking forward to welcoming as many people as possible at this momentous event.”

There is no charge for attending, but any donations would be appreciated via the GoFundMe page.

For speaker biographies and travelling/venue advice, please visit the AWA’s website.

-ends-

For further information, please contact:

Fran Read, national press officer, Canal & River Trust

m 07796 610 427 e fran.read@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Fran Read (she/her)

National press officer

I work Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays

M  07796 610 427

E  fran.read@canalrivertrust.org.uk

Sign up for the Canal & River Trust e-newsletter
Become a fan on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram

If you would like to unsubscribe from Canal & River Trust press releases or the news round-up please let me know at fran.read@canalrivertrust.org.uk.

You can view Canal & River Trust’s Privacy Policy here.

Keep in touch
Sign up for the Canal & River Trust e-newsletter https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/newsletter
Become a fan on https://www.facebook.com/canalrivertrust
Follow us on https://twitter.com/canalrivertrust and https://www.instagram.com/canalrivertrust

This email and its attachments are intended solely for the use of the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient of this email and its attachments, you must take no action based upon them; please delete without copying or forwarding and inform the sender that you received them in error. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Canal & River Trust.

Canal & River Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales with company number 7807276 and charity number 1146792. Registered office address National Waterways Museum Ellesmere Port, South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH65 4FW.

Cadw mewn cysylltiad
Cofrestrwch i dderbyn e-gylchlythyr Glandŵr Cymru https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/newsletter
Cefnogwch ni ar https://www.facebook.com/canalrivertrust
Dilynwch ni ar https://twitter.com/canalrivertrust ac https://www.instagram.com/canalrivertrust

Mae’r e-bost hwn a’i atodiadau ar gyfer defnydd y derbynnydd bwriedig yn unig. Os nad chi yw derbynnydd bwriedig yr e-bost hwn a’i atodiadau, ni ddylech gymryd unrhyw gamau ar sail y cynnwys, ond yn hytrach dylech eu dileu heb eu copïo na’u hanfon ymlaen a rhoi gwybod i’r anfonwr eich bod wedi eu derbyn ar ddamwain. Mae unrhyw farn neu safbwynt a fynegir yn eiddo i’r awdur yn unig ac nid ydynt o reidrwydd yn cynrychioli barn a safbwyntiau Glandŵr Cymru.

Mae Glandŵr Cymru yn gwmni cyfyngedig drwy warant a gofrestrwyd yng Nghymru a Lloegr gyda rhif cwmni 7807276 a rhif elusen gofrestredig 1146792. Swyddfa gofrestredig: National Waterways Museum Ellesmere Port, South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH65 4FW.

Comments are closed.