Community cohesion and wellbeing
Born from a common drive to bring opportunities for wellbeing to the community, our partnership began at the All Aboard project launch in June 2019 where we first announced our aims to purchase and run a canal boat docked at the Polwarth Pontoon.
Following the launch, we ran a pilot programme of consultations, events and activities, including hosting People Know How’s projects for children and young people aboard canal boats. The pilot tested and demonstrated the importance of our aims to provide a space for wellbeing and community cohesion and the response we received from participants was overwhelmingly positive.
Purchasing our purpose-built canal boat
Since the pilot we have been collaborating with other canal-based organisations such as Re-Union and Sorted to continue engaging with the community and running projects along the canal. In doing so we have been building our learning, listening to the community and fundraising towards the purchase of our own boat.
We are now delighted to announce that we have purchased our very own purpose-built canal boat. Once in the water, our canal boat will serve as a safe space to gather, socialise and improve wellbeing. The boat will also host People Know How’s projects supporting children, young people, families and adults, while providing work or volunteering experience for those who support us to maintain the boat.
The boat will launch in the spring, with socially distanced plans for running the boat outside of lockdown already in place. We are now also recruiting for an All Aboard Coordinator to oversee the day to day management of the project and the canal boat. As we recover from this pandemic, our drive to support wellbeing and community cohesion is stronger than ever.
“Scottish Canals welcome the decision of the All Aboard project to purchase a boat for use of the local canal side community. Scotland’s canal network plays an important part in connecting communities across the country and the latest announcement from the All Aboard project will create a stronger bond between the local community and the Union Canal. I look forward to working with All Aboard in the coming months and welcoming the new boat to the canal network.”
Running the All Aboard boat
As New & Used Boat Co. begin construction of our All Aboard canal boat, we are now launching a campaign to raise funds to meet running costs once she is launched. These funds will ensure the boat’s future on the canal, improving wellbeing in the community. Follow us on social media to track the boat’s construction, delivery and launch in the water of the Union Canal. We’re so grateful to all our donors, and as such will be adding each individual donor’s name to a feature area in our new boat!
Text ALLABOARD to 70085 to donate £5* or click below to donate via PayPal.
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All Aboard Project Origins
All Aboard is a canal-side venture in partnership with People Know How that seeks to purchase and run a boat from the newly reinstated Polwarth Pontoon. In doing so we aim to increase positive engagement with the Union Canal among all ages as a path towards improved wellbeing and community cohesion.
We launched All Aboard with a call on Bosun whistles on Saturday 15th June 2019 when many guests and visitors gathered in Polwarth Canal Gardens as part of the 2019 Edinburgh Canal Festival and Raft Race. Read more about the launch event here.
To read the story of this unique project so far, including a list of supporting organisations and charities, click here.
All Aboard was developed from earlier projects to enhance the gardens of Polwarth Parish Church and make the most of our unique location beside the Union Canal. To read this exciting story of our Canal Garden and Community Gardens click here.
We are keen to share with others our experience and practice of discerning our mission from the context of our location and the skills and interests of our members AND of those people in our community who share our environment. We are confident that we have the skills to create workshops and retreats for other congregations and community projects seeking to discern ways to work in partnership. If this is of interest please contact us at office@polwarth.org.uk for a discussion of how we may be of assistance.
We are currently taking part in The Big Splash fundraiser!
Donate now:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/swfa-pkhpolwarth
