FAST FACTS

• Over 50% population live within 5 miles of waterways

• National coverage - almost every city

• Free, local, accessible community resource

• 91% of people say that waterways are an important part of the nation’s heritage

• Third largest owner of Listed structures in the UK - 2,756 Listed Buildings

• 74 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)

Waterway Adoption

Adoption is an act of accepting, approving, caring,

to ‘take up and make one’s own’.

• Local businesses • Schools

• Community groups• Parish Councils

• Residents Associations

Community groups adopt a mile of canal or just a few

locks or bridges.

A years commitment by us and them

Agree a set of tasks and off they go

“Given the recent events in Birmingham, where a mindless minority cast a shadow over the whole country, teamwork like this really does show there is goodness in our community and the power local businesses have in supporting these ventures that can be enjoyed by all.”

Mark Makepeace and Sharron James, Customer Management & Business Development

What have we learnt?

• The value of partnership

• The importance of identifying the various motivations of a community

• To invest in the long term rather than short term community outputs

• Not to ‘enter’ a community unless you have the resources and desire to follow it through

• Our strengths and weaknesses