A charity providing boat trips and residentials for the community and charitable organisations has been given the royal seal of approval.
Sally Clifford went aboard to find out more.
THE innate stillness of the surroundings evokes an immediate sense of calm. Even the lone duck waddling beside the water at Staniland Marina in Thorne, Doncaster, maintains a quiet and non-quacking presence, perhaps conscious of keeping the peace.
The waterway network, and its wildlife inhabitants, can do wonders for mental health and well-being and the Ethel Trust, which operates one of its two-strong fleet of community barges from Staniland Marina along the Stainforth & Keadby Canal, is testimony to that.
Pearl, a 57ft by 12ft widebeam boat, was designed specifically to meet the needs of the charity, which was initially set up in the early 80s to support the homeless in Sheffield, but now provides day trips and residential boating experiences for community and charitable organisations in South Yorkshire.
Along this peaceful stretch, Pearl transports hundreds of passengers a year who benefit from the peace and tranquillity that being on the water brings. One such passenger, Pearl Dearden, a neighbour of one of the trust’s 50 volunteers, enjoyed her trips with the Ethel Trust so much that she expressed her gratitude in a generous bequest to fund the craft named in her honour.
Design
Today’s skipper, John Cuckson, whose wife Liz is also a skipper and administrator with the charity, explains Pearl was designed on Ethel, the trust’s other 57ft by 12ft widebeam boat. Transporting hundreds of passengers a year from the trust’s other mooring at Victoria Quays, Sheffield, Ethel’s route is along the Sheffield & Tinsley Canal, the upper four-mile route of the Sheffield & Yorkshire Navigation. “Ethel is exactly the right size to go through the locks and this is exactly the same size,” says John, referring to the stipulation for the new-build boat.
Stepping down into the cabin, John explains the nifty design of the removable steps making way for the lift, enabling easy access for passengers in wheelchairs. Other specifications include separate sleeping accommodation for the crew with a two-bunk bedroom and an additional pull-down sleep space in a corridor which can be closed off for privacy.
An accessible shower room and separate toilet facilities have also been provided in this impressive build by Colecraft Boats based in Long Itchington which, Sally Winslow, the trust’s social media and PR co-ordinator, explains took around two years to complete.
A modern kitchen leads the way to a spacious lounge surrounded by comfortable seating. Large windows expand the waterside vantage while opening doors at the bow reveal a level outdoor seating and viewing area.
Running on diesel and electric, the hybrid boat’s build came from a consciousness of protecting the planet. “It’s hybrid. It has become more and more of a thing, like cars, it’s the way forward,” says John. “It should also be less maintenance.”
Word of mouth
Scout leader John’s introduction to the trust is familiar among many of the volunteers who found out about it through word of mouth: “It is a great group of volunteers and it’s nice to meet people.”
Today John and his crew, Jan Walshaw and Paul Winks, are accompanying the Sheffield City Knights, a social group for adults with additional needs, on the relaxing six-mile, five-hour trip to Bramwith Lock. It is a familiar route for the group’s volunteer manager, Karen Thistlethwaite, who has joined the Ethel Trust trips for many years and sees first-hand the benefits they bring. “It’s amazing, it’s social skills, independence, teamwork and it’s just fun,” says Karen.
The trust also runs three-day residentials which take them as far as Doncaster and Goole. Barbecues, pub lunches and shopping trips are among the enjoyable experiences along the way. Sally explains passengers can also get involved with steering the boat and helping to operate the locks – under guidance from the trust’s nationally accredited and trained experts.
Spotter sheets are particularly entertaining for young passengers – ranging from five to 19. “On the Sheffield canal we have a terrapin and we do terrapin spotting and there is a moorhen,” says Sally.
Funding to keep the trust afloat comes from the BBC Children in Need and charitable trusts. The boats are also available for private hire, celebrations and special occasions. In 2021 the charity had a very special celebration of its own when it was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service for ‘outstanding support for disadvantaged people.’ Two years later, the trust welcomed a very special visitor – HRH Princess Anne – who unveiled the name plaque and enjoyed a trip on Pearl, taking the helm, as Sally recalls. “It was lovely. We did a 20-minute trip on Pearl and Princess Anne took her turn on the wheel and we had a little plaque that she unveiled. It was also a great endorsement of the work we do.”
To find out more about the Ethel Trust visit: www.etheltrust.co.uk
