Scottish Waterways Trust

The Scottish Waterways Trust was an independent registered charity, established as part of The Waterways Trust in 2000. In 2012 The Waterways Trust merged its operations in England and Wales with the Canal & River Trust, and the organisation in Scotland became an independent charity.

Scottish Waterways Trust
PredecessorThe Waterways Trust
SuccessorKeep Scotland Beautiful
Formation2000 (as part of The Waterways Trust)
2012 (as an independent charity)
Dissolved2019
TypeCharitable trust
Purpose"By connecting people with the heritage, wildlife and green open spaces of Scotland's canals through innovative projects, SWT inspires people to get active, improve their health and mental well-being, employment prospects and community life."[1]
HeadquartersFalkirk Wheel, Falkirk
Region served
Scotland
Key people
The Prince of Wales
(Patron)
Ross Martin CBE
(Chairman of the Board of Trustees)
Main organ
Board of Trustees
Websitewww.scottishwaterwaystrust.org.uk

Foundation

In 2009, sailing and marine activities in Scotland were in relatively good health despite a severe worldwide economic crisis, but the British Waterways Trust was already consulting about changing from being under state control to trust arrangements.[2] Responsibility for Scotland's inland waterways is a devolved issue and British Waterways Scotland received grant funding from the Scottish Government, with two members of the board being appointed by Scottish ministers.[3] The formal separation of responsibility for Scottish waterways from that for England and Wales was described at the time as "mak[ing] for very challenging times".[4]

Projects

The Trust set up the Canal College skills training programme in Falkirk and Edinburgh for young people aged 16-25 years of age which ran 2013–2015, which had helped 162 participants by February 2016.[5][6] It was recognised as an innovative scheme with a positive impact.[7][8] The Canal College 2 was a larger programme based in Inverness which launched in 2017 to run for a period three years.[9][6] This initiative provided education and training in canal skills to unemployed young people.[6] The first participants completed the scheme later that year.[10] Previously Waterways Trust Scotland had been involved in smaller scale project work in the Falkirk area to increase employability.[11]

The Trust organised volunteers to clear and maintain canals.[12][13] It helped teach volunteers some traditional lock-keeping skills and built heritage skills.[14] It worked on regeneration projects and tourism and heritage.[15][16][17] It supported an art exhibition on the theme of canals.[18]

The Trust carried out research into the benefits of the Scottish canal network.[19]

End of the Trust

In March 2019 the charity disclosed that it faced a severe financial situation and was to be making employees redundant.[20] Within a couple of months there was confirmation that the charity had ceased to operate, with some of their activities, including the canal college and Canal Heritage work to be taken forward by environmental charity, Keep Scotland Beautiful.[21]

See also

References
  1. "New Chair and Trustees to steer Scottish Waterways Trust through Ambitious Growth". Scottish Waterways Trust. 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  2. "Plain sailing for tourism as more choose boating breaks". The Herald. Glasgow. 24 August 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  3. "British Waterways calls for end to state control of canals". The Herald. Glasgow. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  4. PIANC Yearbook 2011. PIANC. 2012. p. 106. ISBN 978-2-87223-194-2. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  5. Canal college restores a 200-year-old waterway. BBC Reporting Scotland. 3 January 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  6. "Plans to open Canal College in Inverness". Planet Radio. 24 February 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  7. O'Neill, Emma (30 September 2015). "'Heritage Angels' named at awards". The Scotsman. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  8. Bain, Simon (16 January 2016). "Clarion call for fresh thinking on economy". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  9. Taylor, R. (2017). Willpower: Discover It, Use It and Get What You Want. Wiley. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-85708-719-5. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  10. White, Gregor (10 December 2017). "Canal college sees students gain new skills". The Inverness Courier. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  11. "Youngsters spruce up national treasure". The Scotsman. 18 November 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  12. "Anglian Water volunteers help look after local canal". The NEN – North Edinburgh News. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  13. "Scottish Canals let volunteers learn new skills and improve their community". Daily Record. 21 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  14. "Search for volunteers to protect Forth and Clyde Canal". The Evening Times. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  15. "£972,000 to regenerate Falkirk" (Press release). Scottish Canals. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  16. "Ardrishaig Egg Shed". EB Scotland. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  17. Patrick, Katrina. "New Play Park Makes A Splash". The Scots Magazine. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  18. Scott, P.H. (2005). Spirits of the Age: Scottish Self Portraits. Saltire Society. p. 117. ISBN 978-0-85411-087-2. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  19. Canning, Stephen; Millar, Richard; Moore, Karen (2012). "Measuring the Health Impacts of Scotland's Canals" (PDF). Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  20. Beers, Roy (29 March 2019). "Jobs blow to canals charity based at the Falkirk Wheel". Falkirk Herald. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  21. Beers, Roy (19 May 2019). "Cash crisis forces Falkirk-based Scottish Waterways Trust to fold". Falkirk Herald. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
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