Communications Update

8th April 2016

News Round up

Well another week has whizzed past here’s what’s being going on for us

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​· The Independent reported on Boris Johnson’s plans to tarmac over the nation’s canals to create a ‘cycle super highway’ if he becomes Prime Minister. The scheme, saving the country ‘gazillions of pounds’ in health benefits, would be launched with a beach volleyball game in the middle of what would have been the Grand Union Canal. The piece was, of course, published on April Fools Day

· The Sunday Express (3/4/16) reported on the increase in people wanting to live on, or beside, the nation’s canals – inspired in part by Tim & Pru’s Great Canal Journeys

· The Sunday Telegraph (3/4/16) suggested some gourmet dishes for animals following the news last week that ducks have developed a taste for kale

· Waterway manager, Nick Worthington, spoke to BBC Hereford & Worcester (2/4/16) about the reopening of the River Severn to navigation following the winter flows

· The last in the current series of Great Canal Journeys was broadcast on Channel 4 (3/4/16) and featured the Stratford Canal

· As reported by Civil Society (4/4/16), ‘there were eight new entrants to the Charity 100 Index this year, including the Canal & River Trust at 23 in the first year that the charity was eligible’

· BBC London Radio (5/4/16) had a great chat with ecologist Laura Mullholland about feeding bread to ducks

· Timeout (5/4/16) has a colourful feature on musicians who have moved onto London’s canals because they offer an inspirational and affordable place to live

· After reports of a loch ness monster sighting in the River Thames, ecologist Laura Mullholland had a light-hearted chat with TalkRadio (7/4/16) about the possibility of monsters invading the waterways

In social media:

· Our open day at Sandbach took place on Sunday and we promoted it on Facebook and Twitter. Collectively, our posts reached 16,906 people

· Paloma Faith shared a photo of Little Venice this week with her 615k Twitter followers and 570k fans on Facebook

· We’ve now reached over 40,000 Facebook fans which is an increase of 93% from April 2015

And coming up next week:

· There are a number of Share the Space events taking place across the network – and, although not media focused in themselves, they do provide the opportunity to engage regional media on the subject

· The Trust has partnered with Drifters to offer free canal boating taster sessions next weekend – we’ll be promoting the events to encourage people to get afloat

· Radio 4’s PM programme has interviewed the Trust about our boating enforcement work. The piece is likely to be broadcast in the week ahead

· We’ll be publicising the completion of works to improve the canalside at Knottingley with improved woodland walks and outdoor gym equipment

· We’ll be celebrating the efforts of local volunteers who have started to transform a patch of wasteland next to the Tees Barrage into a relaxing wildlife garden

· A canal adoption group in the West Midlands has collaborated with a graffiti artist to ‘welcome’ canal visitors to Birmingham

· Regional broadcast media in the West Midlands will be invited to come and talk to the Trust about the hoovering of silt from the Engine Arm Aqueduct

· We’ll be appealing for more people to join a volunteering group in Bradford-on-Avon

Selima ‘Champions’

Selima ‘Champions’ are now in place to support the roll out of our Selima online volunteer expenses system. The team has been set up to provide help to both task managers and volunteers to use the new expenses payment process, from setting up profiles to submitting and approving expense claims and/or troubleshoot any problems.

To find out more and to contact your local Selima Champion please email

Events

Here are some great ways to spend your Easter weekend

·  Family fun fishing day on the Rochdale Canal

Come along and try your hand at fishing at this free event along the Rochdale Canal.

27th March 2016

10:00am - 3:00pm

Hopwood Arms

Middleton

Manchester

M24 2RE

If you've ever wanted to try and have a go at fishing, this event is the perfect opportunity for you and your family to have a go for free.

All bait and tackle provided. There will also be licensed level 1 and 2 coaches on hand to help.

Everybody is welcome, no age limits. There will also be a prize given for the 'biggest' fish caught!

For more details please get in touch Jim Ridley 07905 906261.

No need to register, just turn up.

·  Discovering the Regent's Canal

Enjoy a guided walk along the lovely Regent's Canal.

Sunday 24 April

10:00am - 12:30pm

Join us for a guided walk exploring the history of the Regent's Canal between Islington and Camden.

Meet at 10:00 at Angel Station. The event is free of charge, but donations to the Canal & River Trust are welcome. The walk will finish at approximately 12:30 at Camden Market.

To book your space email

·  Belles on bikes

Belles on Bikes’ female- only cycle ride along Llangollen Canal led by trained female Sustrans Volunteers.

17th April 2016

10:30am - 2:00pm

Meeting at Chirk Railway Station

Llangollen Canal

The ride is aimed particularly at women who are new or nervous about cycling. The route along the canal is a great route to get used to your two- wheels. It will also introduce you to the National Cycle Network and the World Heritage Site. There are lots of opportunities to chat, giggle and experience this wonderful area with Sustrans and the Canal & River Trust promoting the ‘Share the Space’ Campaign.

No lycra required!

·  Drifters’ National Open Day 2016

Drifters are offering you the chance to get afloat for free and find out more about canal boat holidays at 19 of their bases across England and Wales

Sunday 17th April 2016.

11:00am - 4:00pm

Various LocationsAddress

The taster sessions will include free trips on skippered narrowboats, as well as boat tours and holiday discounts. No booking is required,please just come along with your friends and family.

Check out the locations and find an open day near you.

·  Waterway Restoration Workshop 2016

Bookings are open for the Waterway Restoration Workshop 2016, which will take place on Saturday the 23rd of April.

Austin Court

Birmingham,

West Midlands
B1 2NP

This year the event will be held at Austin Court, once a metal and nail merchants, now an impressive venue in central Birmingham in the Brindley place development.

The theme of this year’s workshop is 'Why the blue and the green matter'.

The workshop will look at the following topics:

Where does water come from - and linking to the main system.

Environmental issues.

State of the Nation Report.

Forecasting the benefits of your canal restoration project.

Writing a restoration strategy.

Fundraising for your restoration project.

Using social media to get the word out.

We will use the same format as previous workshops - large group sessions, with breakout seminars.

Bring a friend! We are keen to encourage new faces into the canal restoration movement. An additional space is available to each canal restoration trust/society so they can bring along a new volunteer from their group who is interested in getting more involved.

Book a place here

Barging Round Britain – Series 2

Barging Round Britain with John Sergeant airs on ITV from Friday 22nd April.

The 6 episode will cover


1. Peak Forest Canal; 2. Rochdale Canal; 3. Lancaster Canal; 4. Worcester Canal; 5. Oxford Canal; 6. Regents Canal.