Celebrating 15 years of postcode power

Players of the Postcode Lottery have been supporting us since 2012, contributing more than £26 million to projects helping to keep our canals alive. If you’re a Friend or player of the Postcode Lottery, you’ve helped make some great things happen, from repairing vital infrastructure and improving habitats for wildlife to supporting volunteering and community engagement projects. We hope you’ve seen some of the stories we’ve shared on our social media this week to celebrate everything we’ve achieved together over the past 15 years.

Just as your generosity as a Friend makes a difference in so many ways, support from players of the Postcode Lottery is incredibly important in helping us maintain canals and keep them open for boaters and visitors alike. To mark this special anniversary, later this year, their support will enable us to install “15 Locks for 15 Years” as part of our 2026/27 Lock Replacement programme, which will see a total of 43 new individual lock gates supplied by our workshops at Bradley and Stanley Ferry.

And replacing lock gates is just the start. Postcode Lottery support has helped us repair bridges and towpaths as well as carry out vital work on many of the wonders of our waterways, including Anderton Boat Lift in Cheshire and the Tees Barrage in Stockton.

Canals are about much more than water and locks – they're places where nature can thrive and people can connect with the outdoors. Support from Postcode Lottery players has helped protect vital habitats, improve access to waterways and inspire more people to value and care for canals.

Looking to the future, it's more important than ever that young people have the chance to discover the benefits and beauty of our waterways. Thanks to Postcode Lottery players, our Explorers Programme reaches around 100,000 children each year, helping to inspire the next generation of canal engineers, ecologists and waterways champions.

Campbell Robb, our Chief Executive said: "This year marks the 15th year of support from Postcode Lottery players, and we're proud to celebrate everything that support has helped achieve. From regenerating historic canals and helping nature thrive to creating more opportunities for people to enjoy and connect with their local waterways, players have made a lasting difference. Together, these achievements are helping us create living waterways that transform places and enrich lives.”

Friends, volunteers, partners and staff all form part of the amazing team caring for our canals. Through partnerships like Postcode Lottery, we're working together to preserve our canal history, protect wildlife and help millions of people enjoy spending time by water.