Our aim
Our aim is to raise awareness of the fact that there are people aboard boats with a variety of accessibility needs on our inland waterways. This seems to come as a surprise to some people. The Accessible Waterways Association also wants to break down barriers, and influence public attitudes and behaviours toward and around disabled people.
The Accessible Waterways Association wants all waterways users to have a voice and influence to effect change for better. We will continually strive to work in partnership with the various waterways authorities and other relevant agencies to achieve this. We also want to enable our members to connect with and support one another.
Our members
Membership is open to all, disabled and non-disabled. Our members come from all walks of life, not just those who are living with a disability or long-term health condition. The Accessible Waterways Association fully recognises that not all disabilities are obvious, labelled or even diagnosed. We strive to be inclusive and to understand and reflect the interests of all our members.
Although originally set up to represent those living with a disability, the AWA recognises that accessibility issues can affect anyone. For example, young families with pushchairs, cyclists, and those with shopping trolleys or suitcases, can find using the towpaths difficult for a variety of reasons. Even the simple process of ageing, that we are all likely to face, can potentially bring with it a plethora of challenges that fit under the banners of various disabilities, eg physical, cognitive and sensory. And, of course, there are times when someone has suffered even a minor injury that can temporarily cause them difficulties.
We have a board of Directors who have been selected for their expertise and experience in a diverse range of relevant issues.
Our aim is to work with the various waterways authorities in developing and implementing policies, works, and strategies to make the waterways accessible to as many people as possible. We have to acknowledge that a lot of the waterways network is ancient and so heritage limits the extent to which adaptations can be made. However, we believe that there comes a point where heritage has to give way to progress. The Accessible Waterways Association will do everything we can to work with the various agencies/authorities to try to find ways to adapt that heritage in a sympathetic way, to accommodate the needs of all.
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Boaters’ Blue Card
The Accessible Waterways Association has introduced the Boaters’ Blue Card scheme to the waterways. This is a ‘badge’ for optional display on any disabled member’s boat that tells passers-by that there is a person with accessibility needs aboard. Unlike the car blue badge scheme, the Boaters’ Blue Card will not carry any entitlement to moor in otherwise restricted/forbidden spots (eg, a car blue badge holder is entitled to park on double yellow lines for a limited time). However, we are working closely with the Canal & River Trust, and other waterways authorities, to agree how the Blue Card system can be extended and how it might complement their existing equalities adjustment process.
The Boaters’ Blue Card will be primarily an ‘awareness’ sign; intended to inform others that there is someone aboard the boat who could be less aware of, or able to react to, passers-by. It is hoped that this will help to generate understanding and consideration from fellow waterways users. It bears a simple, clear, generic logo that does not state the nature of the bearer’s disability. That could be added, if desired, by way of a separate sign beside the Blue Card.
Trust Aware
The Canal & River Trust have a number of policies in place to support vulnerable and disabled boaters. If you need an adjustment to, for example, allow you a reduced cruising pattern, then you can apply for an equality adjustment. For more information, please take a look at their “Disabled boater information” page.
As seen on Channel 4’s “Narrow Escapes”! (Episodes 16-18)
Fund Britain’s Waterways
Britain’s inland waterways are under threat due to inadequate funding. The funding situation is already causing deterioration and will only worsen with the challenges of high inflation and the impact of climate change, which are both at a level unforeseen when current funding was agreed. Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW) brings together a number of waterways associations to campaign to persuade national and local government to ensure that the benefits provided to the public do not continue to be eroded.
The Accessible Waterways Association is proud to be part of this campaigning group.
Our funders
Corporate Members
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