‘Diamond’ Birmingham man up for national award after years of providing free canal boat adventures to disabled people
AWA is delighted to share this report, which highlights the wellbeing benefits of our inland waterway and the need to make them more accessible. We wish Hugh well at the forthcoming awards ceremony.
Hugh Humphreys, 79, has been exploring Birmingham’s waterways with disabled people since 2016, in a narrowboat named after his late wife, Ivy.
A generous local man, who has been taking disabled adults on canal boat trips for years, has been recognised by a national disability charity.
The Sense Awards, now in its 21st year, is the charity Sense’s annual celebration of people with complex disabilities, and those in their lives that support them. There are 13 categories in total, which aim to recognise the achievements of disabled people and those that support them, including carers, campaigners and fundraisers.
One of the people set to be recognised by the charity is Hugh Humphreys, a proud Welshman and adopted Brummie, now living in Edgbaston. The retired engineer has a passion for canals and narrow boating. Hugh is a member of the Lapal Canal Trust, which is working with the local community to restore the Dudley No 2 Canal, and provides boat trips to local disabled people supported by Sense.
Described by Sense staff as “a diamond”, Hugh, 79, has taken hundreds of disabled people supported by the charity on waterway adventures. Hugh provides monthly boat trips for the charity, which supports people with complex disabilities who tend to have high support needs. He picks up participants from Sense Touchbase Pears in Selly Oak in his boat, named ‘Ivy’ after his beloved wife, who sadly passed away last Christmas. The boat provides a sensorily-stimulating environment for the people who go on the trips, including the hum and vibration of the engine.
The benefits have recently been recognised by the National Lottery Community Fund, who have agreed to fund larger boat trips to include the elderly and school children. In recognition of Hugh’s amazing dedication to the charity, and to the people it supports, he has been shortlisted for Sense’s Community Partner of the Year.
Hugh Humphreys said:
“Our beautiful canals give so much pleasure to the local community, and it has been incredibly rewarding to share this with all of the fantastic people at Sense and their dedicated and caring staff. The Lapal Canal Trust is keen to be more involved with the community, and working with Sense has been a genuine delight. Particular thanks to Jon Fearn, Active Lifestyles Facilitator, at Sense who makes all the arrangements, provides tea and biscuits and a tour of the area, often visiting our beautiful cathedral.”
Sense, the national charity that supports people with complex disabilities, received more than 100 nominations for its awards this year. It was down to a team of disabled judges to review the nominations and decide a shortlist of three entries for each category. These judges were: author Lisette Auton, playwright Matilda Feyiṣayọ Ibini, influencer Shelby Lynch, activist Paige Barnes, singer-songwriter Joe Kenny, Drag King Crip Ladywood, and the first blind female fitness instructor Jaina Mistry. You can find out more about them here: www.sense.org.uk/sense-awards/judges/.
Richard Kramer, Chief Executive at Sense, said:
“Hugh is a truly selfless person, whose canal boat adventures have become legendary among the people we support in the Midlands. I wish him all the best at the Sense Awards, and want to give a huge thank you to him for all the incredible boat trips he’s provided for us over the years.”
Sense will be revealing this year’s winners on its social media channels in November. You can find out more about the Sense Awards on the charity’s website: www.sense.org.uk/sense-awards.