Our annual report and accounts shows how we're continuing with our ambition to make life better by water by investing more money in what we do, encouraging and enabling more people to get involved, opening up waterways to more young people and ensuring more high quality waterside spaces.
The Annual Report & Accounts chart a year when income, volunteering, and spend on our charitable activities grew to record levels and a period that also saw extreme weather events contribute to widespread infrastructure damage, including the emergency at Toddbrook Reservoir, and the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Our income increased by £6.1 million in 2019/20 to £216.1 million and spend on charitable activities increased by £10.9 million, with underlying expenditure on core maintenance, repairs and infrastructure works continuing to grow.
The implications of the coronavirus pandemic for the Trust, including the furloughing of staff, impact on community activities, volunteering and day-to-day operations, as well as the important role the waterways played during lockdown when the towpaths demonstrated their value in providing accessible green and blue space for local people, are examined in the Report.
The Report acknowledges that, whilst our income and investments will be affected by the pandemic, the full economic impact of the crisis is not yet fully known. As we prioritise spend on winter works in the months ahead, with a full maintenance and repair programme, we have indicated a likely loss of income in the current year of around 10%.
Whilst boating was put on hold for most during the initial stages of lockdown, the Report does highlight a small growth in boat numbers and income from boating and moorings remaining at just under 20% of income in 2019/20.
Spend on charitable activities increased by £10.9 million this year, with underlying expenditure on core maintenance, repairs and infrastructure works continuing to grow.
The Trust’s income increased by £6.1 million in 2019/20 to £216.1 million.
Last date edited: 9 November 2020