We have 35,000 boats licensed on our 2,000 miles of waterways across England and Wales. The 2022 Census Survey intends to offer a snapshot of life on the waterways in the 21st century, 250 years after the network opened to navigation.
The census data will help inform our work and that of others, such as health service providers and local authorities, to make sure boaters are considered and their needs are met through decision-making, policy and services.
Boaters were asked about the issues and challenges they have experienced due to living on a boat. The results include a large amount of qualitative data, which was analysed section by section. We have now published the Boater Census ‘Issues & Challenges’ report, which highlights the daily challenges faced by boaters who live on their boats.