This vital funding enables us to embark on new projects, using our waterways and museums as unique spaces that make a difference to people’s lives.
Major giving helps us to achieve much more so that an increasing number of people can get out there and enjoy all that the waterways have to offer. From education and arts initiatives to projects bringing communities together to enhance heritage sites and protect their local environment.
You can help us to care for our historic waterways by making a donation as an individual or through your charitable trust or foundation. You can choose to support our overall work with an unrestricted grant, which will enable us to protect and care for our iconic waterways or you can support a particular project, location or theme.
Our environment: protecting biodiversity, tackling pollution and the climate crisis
Our waterways provide vital habitat corridors that connect wildlife in urban and rural areas and we also have 68 nationally protected 'Sites of Special Scientific Interest' (SSSIs).
Our environmental work includes planting and maintaining our towpath hedgerows, trees and plants to provide food and shelter for birds, water voles, fish and otters. Our towpaths also provide healthy alternative travel routes and we are committed to reducing the amount of litter and plastic that is finding its way into our oceans.
A gift towards greening our waterways will help to protect the planet and preserve nature and beauty on our doorsteps.
Our heritage: saving heritage at risk
Our canals are home to almost 3,000 listed structures as well as 46 ancient monuments and 4 UNESCO world heritage sites, ranging from milestones and lock gates to historic bridges. tunnels and buildings and even a Victorian boat lift.
We also have a number of museums and visitor attractions that tell the story of Britain's canals throughout the ages, including our nationally accredited National Waterways Museum.
Your gift could support a particular heritage asset, helping us to preserve our unique waterways heritage for future generations.
Our schools work: inspiring young people
Our 200-year-old waterway network has some remarkable feats of engineering, that demonstrate how science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) subjects can apply to the world around us.
We are actively working with a range of schools in urban areas close to a canal to offer exciting and innovative practical learning for both primary and secondary school pupils.
It is proven that the arts have a powerful and lasting effect on people's wellbeing, bringing a sense of joy and connection.
Our linear network of canals lends itself very well to a wide range of community arts projects, including a national trail of waterway art, floating libraries, dance, poetry and music.
Your gift will truly make a transformational difference to our work. It will help us to protect our waterways and their wonderful heritage for the future, and enrich the lives of the many people who visit them.
In turn we promise to:
ensure your gift is allocated according to your wishes
allocate a dedicated member of our team to support you in your work with us
invite you to experience, first hand, the work you are supporting so you can see what a real difference you make
regularly report on the impact of your support
provide the opportunity to connect with our senior leadership team
invite you to exclusive events to connect with other, like-minded supporters
ensure your experience of partnering with the Canal & River Trust is a wholly positive one
Trusts and Foundations that have previously supported us, or are current donors include:
