Thames21 and British Waterways: Environmental regeneration along London's canals

  1.  Thames21 is an environmental regeneration charity that works with communities to restore the rivers and canals of London. Thames21 became an independent Registered Charity in 2004 and works with more than 4,000 volunteers a year.

  2.  British Waterways (BW) contributes to the running of Thames21. BW pays Thames21 approximately £120,000 pa and supplies specialist plant to enable the organisation to carry out work under contract for BW. BW also pays another £54,000 pa to help fund the core costs of Thames21.

  3.  BW's role in restoration and regeneration through Thames21 alone, is highly constructive, supportive and effective. The funding that Thames21 receives from BW is vital to its work with communities and organisations along the Capital's canal network. Without it, innovative projects would not have been created. Much regeneration funding is project based and this can mean the scope to test and develop original programmes is limited. The core funding Thames21 receives from BW allows this crucial work to take place.

  4.  Example A: Thames21 has a programme called "Canalkeeper volunteers". This sees local people adopt, care for and improve a stretch of the canal. The funding from BW ensures this programme can be flexible and dynamic. As part of this initiative, Thames21 works closely with a day centre for adults with learning difficulties. Staff found it impossible to find outside placements for the centre's users; few organisations were willing to work with them. As a result of BW's support the centre's users have become Canalkeeper volunteers. While physical regeneration attracts funding, social regeneration is often neglected. British Waterways' funding helps to redress this balance and makes a profound and unique difference to the lives of these volunteers.

  5.  Example B: Thames21 is also working to regenerate communities alongside a waterway called the Brent Feeder in North West London. The Feeder passes through some of London's most deprived areas eg Stonebridge. The Brent Feeder project will transform a damaged and neglected waterway into a vibrant local amenity, linking fractured and isolated communities. This essential social cohesion work would not be possible without the funding from British Waterways. The effective relationship with BW allows Thames21 to operate with greater freedom than traditional funding might permit and explore and nurture new ideas. "Pump Prime" funding from BW enables Thames21 to respond to requests from local people.

  6.  Example C: Support from BW has helped Thames21 to create the first angling club in Central London in a generation. Angling is an effective way of helping communities to work together, strengthening social cohesion and changing community attitudes to their local canal areas in London. The Ladbroke Rovers Angling Club sees all ages fish along side each other; established and newly-arrived communities fish together; and it has encouraged retired anglers back to the canal. Work will soon begin to improve the local habitat for fish with the planting of lilies. This is with funding brokered by BW.

  7.  This is a short overview of the work that Thames21 does along London's canal network. Without the funding of British Waterways it would not have taken place. Thames21's development would have suffered and our programmes stagnated. Most importantly many communities would not have benefited from significant improvements to their local canal.

Debbie Leach, Chief Executive

Thames21

March 2008