ANGEL Community Canal Boat Trust, a charity based in Islington, has been providing day and residential boat trips for community groups on its boat Angel II of Islington for more than 40 years.
Recently it provided free trips for an especially deserving group. After hearing of their work in raising funds to supply trauma kits to send to their countrymen on the front line the trust was proud to be joined by the 1st London Plast, a Ukrainian scout group.
Skipper Phil Gavigan said: “The strength to carry on through adversity should be an example to us all. Several of these young people have had to flee their war-torn homeland, leaving family and friends behind.”
Over a very warm and pleasant weekend in June, 48 cubs, scouts and leaders took to the canal like the proverbial ducks to water, many of which were seen during the trip.
Split into four groups, each enjoyed a three-hour trip between Islington and Little Venice, learning about our historic canal system and how to operate the canal locks, as well as enjoying the wildlife along the route.
Their voices rang out with song throughout the trip, bringing smiles and cheers of encouragement from passers-by on the towpath and they made particular use of the acoustics in Islington Tunnel.
After a combined picnic and games session the return journeys were just as tuneful with several enthusiastic renditions of Ukraine’s winning Eurovision hit.
One of the leaders said: “We loved everything. Thank you for making the children smile – the children said it was such a happy day, ‘the best day ever’.”
What a lovely story!
To find out what funding may be available for your community group visit the website www.angelboat.org or contact the skipper at [email protected]
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