Boating numbers and income are up for 2019/20 according to the annual report and accounts published by the Canal & River Trust. The report charts a year when income, volunteering, and spend on the trust’s charitable activities grew to record levels. Income increased by £6.1m to £216.1m and spend on charitable activities increased by £10.9m, with underlying expenditure on maintenance, repairs and infrastructure works continuing to grow.
Whilst boating was put on hold for most during the initial stages of the Covid-19 lockdown, there was a small growth in boat numbers and income from boating and moorings remained at just under 20% of income in 2019/20.
Richard Parry, chief executive at the Canal & River Trust, said that a lot had been achieved in the trust’s eight years. “However this year has been a reminder of the scale of the trust’s core responsibility, with a series of extreme weather events contributing to widespread infrastructure damage and the important role our waterways play within society, both as a network for boating, but also as vital green and blue corridors in our towns and cities,” he said.
This year the trust’s annual public meeting will be hosted online on October 28 with people able to view and submit questions to the chief executive and chair via the Canal & River Trust website.
Download the report: The Canal & River Trust annual report shows progress despite significant challenges
Read another article about Canal & River Trust: Canal & River Trust set to spend £45 million on waterways works this winter
