Bruce Trust panto fundraiser

The Bruce Trust — the Kennet & Avon Canal based charity that operates specially designed and purpose built boats for use by disabled people — will benefit from a special performance of the Kintbury pantomime Peter Pan next month.

Following last year's successful event for the charity the St Mary's Drama Group are to stage another benefit evening in Kintbury Coronation Hall on Wednesday 15 February 2012.

The bar opens at 7.10pm and curtains go up at 7.30pm

Tickets are £7.50 (which includes a glass of wine or soft dring on arrival)

For more information contact Rebecca Bruce 

Tel: 01264 356451

Email: rebecca@brucetrust.org.uk

Bruce Trust Fact File

The Bruce Trust was formed in 1988 by Louise and David Bruce after they sold their chain of Firkin Pubs in London. 

They were keen to plough some of the proceeds into a project that would benefit the community and they had become intrigued by the possibility of offering self-catering holidays to disabled, disadvantaged or elderly people cruising on the Kennet & Avon Canal. 

After much research they initially put their own money into the project — and over the years they have received many generous donations to the Trust enabling the fleet to be increased to four specially-designed, purpose-built, wide-beam canal boats.

The extra width of the boats gives plenty of space for wheelchair users to manoeuvre and the boats have special built-in facilities, including hydraulic lifts, wide-access boarding ramps, low-level bunks, heating and specially fitted showers and toilets. 

Rebecca, Hannah and Diana have been designed so that wheelchair users can steer the boat using the tiller and both Hannah and Rachel have been fitted with a remote steering device that enables people with less upper body mobility to steer from their wheelchair using a joystick.

The Bruce Trust has made it possible for more than 13,000 disabled, disadvantaged or elderly people — and their carers, friends or family — to enjoy participative canal-cruising holidays on the boats. As one family explained: 

“With increasing age and disability my father Harry’s days of enjoying canal holidays seemed to be over. But last week, there he was rising up on the lift to take the tiller once again and having a wonderful holiday with four generations of his family”. 

The holiday makers are helped on their way by the dedication of more than 90 voluntary helpers who make sure that the Trust can operate in the best and most economical fashion. 

Some volunteers also crew day trips — this year more than 400 people from day centres or residential homes for the elderly were able to enjoy a day of peaceful cruising on the canal. 

Paralympic trip for Bruce Trust boat

The Trust are now busy making plans for the trip and they have already visited the site with British Waterways staff to ensure that it  is suitable for wheelchair access.

They will take their 10 berth boat, Diana, to the games and they will moor on the Hertford Union  canal near to the Olympic Park from Wednesday 29 August until Sunday 9 September.

Paralympic trip for Bruce Trust boat

Trip to the Paralympics for Bruce Trust boat Diana: Picture by Bob Naylor©

A Bruce Trust hire boat specially designed and purpose built for use by disabled people will be at the Paralympics in London next year thanks to the offer of a free mooring for the duration of the games by British Waterways.

The Trust, based at Great Bedwyn on the Kennt & Avon Canal, are now busy making plans for the trip and they have already visited the site with BW staff to ensure that it  is suitable for wheelchair access.

They will take their 10 berth boat, Diana, to the games and they will moor on the Hertford Union  canal near to the Olympic Park from Wednesday 29 August until Sunday 9 September.

They will make the cruise in both directions with the help of their own band of volunteers, local Rotary Clubs and some of their customers — with a qualified skipper and an experienced crew aboard at all times. 

Bruce Trust administrator, Rebecca Bruce said: "This will give our customers a new adventure and a change of scene from their regular trip routes and while Diana is moored in London we will have customers to stay for a couple of nights each, either to see London or have accommodation close to the Games if they have managed to get tickets.

"And having the boat there will show just what facilities the Trust is able to offer people with disabilities and their families — and that an enjoyable boating holiday a real possibility." 

Finds out more about the Bruce Trust and its fleet of specially designed boats at: www.brucetrust.org.uk

K&A Canal Trust President slams Government's 'stupid' waterway charity plans

K&A Canal Trust President, David Bruce Picture by Bob Naylor ©

K&A Canal Trust President, David Bruce

Picture by Bob Naylor ©

By Bob Naylor

Plans to turn British Waterways into a charitable trust are 'stupid' says David Bruce who became President of the Kennet & Avon Canal Trust following the recent resignation of former MP Michael Ancram.

Speaking at the Trust's AGM he called for a campaign to persuade the coalition government to reverse the policy in the way that they did over selling off the forests and the proposed changes to the National Health Service.

He said: "Government came up with a stupid idea to hand responsibility for Britain's Canals from the public accountability of British Waterways to Parliament and the electorate and it now proposes that it be run by a small group of new Trustees who will only be accountable to the Charity Commission and the jobsworths that tick the boxes at Companies House."

He described as 'extraordinary' the fact that of the eight new trustees, three of them are existing British Waterways directors. "Guess what", he said, "they are the Chairman, the Vice Chairman and another director who happens to head the Audit Committee.

"When you are trying to change the culture of a body that used to report to Parliament and you have still got the same culture of the British Waterways Board leading those eight trustees then I treat that with a great degree of scepticism. This is a 'shoo-in' … a done-deal and I hate a done deal.

"It has been bad enough, I think, for poor old British Waterways, and I don't normally feel sorry for them, trying to keep Britain's Waterways going with their piddly little amounts of money from Defra - it may be 40 or 50 million pounds a year — but its not enough."

David Bruce, who started the Bruce Trust charity 22 years ago so that people with disabilities and their families can enjoy a canal holiday, went on to question how a charity is going to be
able afford to maintain the locks and the infrastructure and to maintain the water levels if British Waterways with Defra cannot.

He said: "My experience of charities is that they are not bottomless pits of cash — and I think it is really worrying that the government is now seizing this opportunity to pass our much loved national treasure of waterways from BW to a charitable trust — this new National Waterways Trust or whatever absurd name the jobsworths come up with.

"Who knows, if enough canal enthusiasts throughout the UK make their views heard then perhaps the government might listen as it did with the Forestry Commission proposals and the NHS reforms, when the public revolted and the Government listened. We have got to appeal to the Government."

Forest sell-off: 'This is what people power looks like'

NHS reforms: amended plans are 'car crash'

Bruce Trust Website: http://www.brucetrust.org.uk/

Comments on all stories are always welcome however a comment on this story by 'anonymous' has been removed on legal advice.

Bruce Trust Administrator retires after 21 years 

The Bruce Trust, based on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Great Bedwyn, that provides boating holidays for elderly people and people with disabilities and their carers has just completed its 21st season and Danese Rudd who has been the Trust Administrator since it began has decided that it is time to retire from the role.

Bruce Trust founder, David Bruce, with Danese Rudd, left who has retired as Administrator after 21 years and 

his daughter, Rebecca who has taken over her job.

David Bruce said, "Danese has put her heart and soul into her work and she has achieved so much over the years. We are very pleased that she will continue with her voluntary work with the Trust."

Danese’s role evolved naturally as the Trust grew and her responsibilities have been many and varied: fundraising, design and building of new boats, marketing, bookings and administration, recruitment, organising a rota for voluntary helpers, weekend training courses, dealing with call-outs and winter maintenance are just a few tasks that the job entailed.

The Trust started with one boat, The Rebecca, in 1988, and the fleet has been increased to four boats through the sheer hard work and determination of Danese and the Trustees.  

And now ready to face the challenge of filling Danese’s boots is her replacement, Rebecca Bruce, who was only 4 years old when the Trust was created and after whom the first boat was named. 

Since leaving University Rebecca has worked in the charity sector and she pitched in as a volunteer this season — getting to know things from the bottom up.

Rebecca said, "I am really looking forward to continuing the efficient running of the fleet and we are also looking to expand the Trust. At the moment we are researching the feasibility of building log cabins and campervans, so that even more people with disabilities can enjoy holidays with The Bruce Trust in the future." 

The History of The Bruce Trust

The Bruce Trust was formed in 1988 by Louise and David Bruce after they sold their chain of Firkin Pubs in London. 

They were keen to plough some of the proceeds into a project that would benefit the community and they had become intrigued by the possibility of offering self-catering holidays to disabled, disadvantaged or elderly people cruising on the Kennet & Avon Canal. 

After much research they initially put their own money into the project — and over the years they have received many generous donations to the Trust enabling the fleet to be increased to four specially-designed, purpose-built, wide-beam canal boats.

The Bruce Trust specially adapted wheelchair-friendly wide-beam trip boat 'Diana' passes Pewsey Wharf: Picture by Bob Naylor

The extra width of the boats gives plenty of space for wheelchair users to manoeuvre and the boats have special built-in facilities, including hydraulic lifts, wide-access boarding ramps, low-level bunks, heating and specially fitted showers and toilets. 

Rebecca, Hannah and Diana have been designed so that wheelchair users can steer the boat using the tiller and both Hannah and Rachel have been fitted with a remote steering device that enables people with less upper body mobility to steer from their wheelchair using a joystick.

The Bruce Trust has enabled more that 11,000 disabled, disadvantaged or elderly people together with their carers, friends or family to enjoy participative canal-cruising holidays on the boats - as one family explained, “With increasing age and disability my father Harry’s days of enjoying canal holidays seemed to be over. But last week, there he was rising up on the lift to take the tiller once again and having a wonderful holiday with four generations of his family”. 

The holiday makers are helped on their way by the dedication of over 70 voluntary helpers who make sure that the Trust can operate in the best and most economical fashion. 

Some volunteers also crew day trips — this year more that 500 people from day centres or residential homes for the elderly were able to enjoy a day of peaceful cruising on the canal.  

Contact Details

Email: rebecca.bruce@brucetrust.org.uk

Web:  www.brucetrust.org.uk

Address: PO Box 21, Hungerford, Berkshire, RG17 9YY

Telephone: 01264 356451