I have received information from Swansea Community Boat Trust, a local
charity which interprets local history, to the effect that in order to
receive a significant grant for a new boat they need to raise 10% of the
grant amount as 'match-funding' at short notice.
Their web site is at
www.scbt.org.uk
The information they supply is as follows:
Swansea Community Boat has a proven track record of delivery, having carried
over 8,000 people in 2012 for trips along the Tawe River to view the Copper
Works sites and historic Swansea Waterfront. Passengers came from schools
and community groups throughout Swansea, as well as visitors to the area.
This unique charitable project meets a local need within the community,
whilst contributing to the regional and national strategically identified
importance of the revitalisation of Swansea Waterfront within the Wales
Spatial Plan.
The Community Boat provides the only public access to the River Tawe,
linking National Waterfront Museum, Swansea Museum Collections Centre and
the Copperopolis sites at Landore. It is a partner in Swansea Museums
Service "4site" curriculum-based education programme for primary schools.
The Trust is developing interpretive resources and the "Floating Classroom"
provides an exciting learning environment for young people. Visitors to the
Waterfront also like to find out more about Swansea's varied heritage.
Bookings from schools, community groups and the public are almost full to
capacity. However, the key risk to the sustainable economic growth of the
project is that the boat itself is not fit for purpose during periods of
inclement weather. For example, 26 bookings had to be cancelled in June last
year due to the flat bottomed vessel not being operable in high winds. The
existing boat is also getting increasingly expensive to maintain.
The Trust therefore plans to purchase a new vessel suitable for use in all
weathers, so that certainty of income generation will lead to financial
sustainability for this charitable enterprise. The grant from Swansea City
Waste Disposal Company Limited will help make it possible to bring the
benefits of the community boat project to many more people, so raising the
10% match funding is an urgent priority.
The Trust would welcome the opportunity to tell you more about this exciting
project. We need to raise a fairly modest amount of match funding, but the
time frame is very tight as the money has to be with "Swansea City Waste
Disposal Company Limited" by 30th May. We're pretty confident that we can
raise about half of the match funding, but we could do with your help to
find the rest. Any size donation would be very welcome.
I have no connection with this organisation, but am posting this in case
anyone in UK with a particular interest in this sort of project would like
to find out more or to contribute.
They have an email address on their web site. I have limited additional
details if you contact me off-list
Jeff