We launched our #KeepCanalsAlive campaign to highlight how a significant reduction of government funding would put our much-loved canal network at risk.
Our much-loved canal network, which delivers so much benefit to people and for nature, relies on funding from multiple sources – our grant from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) being one of them, at around 22% of our funding in 2024-25.
In July 2023, Defra announced a new funding settlement, spanning from 2027 to 2037, to follow on from our current agreement.
The amount awarded represented a steep reduction in funding of over £300 million in real terms over ten years - a reduction that would be highly detrimental to our canals, and the people, businesses and wildlife who rely on them.
We launched our #KeepCanalsAlive campaign to highlight how a reduction of this size would inevitably result in a decline in the overall condition of our network, and, alarmingly, the possibility of canal closures. It would put at risk richly biodiverse habitats, historic infrastructure and cherished public places.
Strong public support
We asked our passionate and engaged community of canal users to write to their local MPs to express their concerns.
Nearly 12,000 emails were sent to over 600 MPs across the country, urging them to protect our canal network.
This response demonstrated the strength of feeling amongst our supporters, and placed canal funding firmly on the political agenda.
Engaging with government and MPs
We engaged extensively with MPs and political stakeholders from all parties. Many MPs visited their local canals to see first-hand the work involved in maintaining such historic yet vulnerable assets.
Several MPs wrote to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and raised questions in both Houses of Parliament. Others pledged their support on social media or highlighted the issue in the press.
On 6 March 2024, we took our campaign to Parliament, hosting a reception that demonstrated the essential role of the canal network in tackling national challenges like water security, health and wellbeing, and nature recovery. The event drew strong endorsements from MPs across the political spectrum, including Robbie Moore MP (then Minister for Water and Rural Growth), Toby Perkins MP (then Shadow Minister for Nature and Rural Affairs), and Wendy Morton MP.
Widespread media coverage and partner support
#KeepCanalsAlive gained national and regional media attention, with coverage from Sky News, ITV News, BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, and BBC Radio Wales, as well as features in newspapers such as the Mail, Independent, London Standard, and Yorkshire Post.
We were also grateful to the Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign, launched by several organisations representing inland waterways users and supporters, and to the many other organisations who wrote to the Government on our behalf, including British Canoeing (now Paddle UK), British Marine, Cycling UK, and various city councils.
Continuing the focus on funding
Our efforts have not stopped. We continue to engage with MPs, prospective parliamentary candidates, and stakeholders to build public and political support for protecting our precious canal network.
Although reduced, we remain grateful for the continued funding from Defra and are actively seeking multiple other ways to raise much-needed funds to undertake important work that cannot be delayed.
Generous support from the public has helped us repair areas of our canal network that were significantly damaged by devastating winter storms.
Looking ahead
We remain committed to:
Raising awareness through media and public outreach
Engaging with MPs and shaping future policy
Presenting evidence on the value of canals for people, nature, and the economy
Generating funding from alternative sources to keep canals open and thriving
Thank you
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has taken part in our #KeepCanalsAlive campaign, and to those who continue to support us with donations and fundraising efforts.
