Re-Union Canal Boats Ltd Annual Report 2013

Introduction Re-Union Canal Boats is a social enterprise based on and around the Union Canal. We engage meaningfully with canalside communities from Quay to through a variety of projects including canal clean up’s, community garden, education trips, floating youth clubs and co- ordinating community consultations and the Edinburgh Canal Festival. We provide training programmes in Edinburgh and for people referred to us by a range of agencies and also for people who love the canal.

Based in Edinburgh Quay, Re-Union offer boat trips to community, corporate and private groups to generate income. We also own 51% of Capercaillie Cruisers, a holiday hire boat company, as a trading arm of the organisation.

Board The voluntary Board of Directors of Re-Union in 2013 consisted of Sheila Durie, Sam Baumber, Douglas Tharby, Gerry Baker, Helen Wyllie, Jan Colligen and Christine Wilson. They were joined by Sheila McMillan and Caroline St Johnston on 11 th September 2013. The range of skills and knowledge of the Board continues to contribute to the governance of the organisation.

Staff Pat Bowie continues as full-time General Manager. Sam Adderley returned, from maternity leave, as Canal Community Development Worker. Miranda Morgan was re-recruited in April 2013 as Volunteer Development Worker Edinburgh and Anna Canning recruited to cover the new training programme in Falkirk. These two posts were funding through the People and Communities Fund. We also employ 4 skippers/trainers on a casual basis.

Canal Centre The Re-Union Canal Centre continues to be a great asset to staff, volunteers and for the promotion of boat sales. It is used as a drop in centre for users of Edinburgh Quay and the towpath. Local groups are also making good use of the centre and we rented meeting space to The Meadows Festival, Grove Garden, Forth Canoe Club, and Canalside Initiative. We also host the Canal College and Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network.

Volunteers In 2013 Re-Union were able to expand their training programme into Falkirk. This was made possible by funding through the People and Communities Fund and support from Link Housing Association and Prospect Community Housing. As part of this 2 centre training programme we are regularly exchanging volunteers between areas and encouraging them to experience different parts of the canal in different types of boats and introducing them to new locations.

Over the year we have had 71 volunteers signed up. 27 of these have gained RYA certificates. We have also provided training in REHIS, John Muir Awards, TCV Leadership Courses, First Aid, MIDAS, Water Safety, Canal History, Lift Bridge Operation, Hospitality, Rope

Re-Union Canal Boats Ltd 1 Union Path, Edinburgh, EH3 9QB Co Reg 265866 Charity Reg SC035342 Work, Mental Health Awareness Training and Mentor Training. A total of 144 people attended over these 12 topics.

We have referred people to the Saltire Awards, Volunteering Certificates, provided references for potential employment, given cv support, interview practice, ILA registration and canal college applications. 93 crewing opportunities were given to 28 participants. Our volunteers have taken part in supporting the canal college project and carried out a canal survey for Scottish Canals. They have also helped organise, set up and marshal Edinburgh Canal Festival and Edinburgh Festival Flotilla.

Re-Union has continued working with local support agencies, such as Wester Hailes Health Agency, Prospect Community Housing, the Sorted Project, NHS, the Action Group, Ingeus, Dads Work, Autism Initiatives and the Volunteer Centre. We have created new links with Falkirk Agencies such as Asset, FDAMH, Caledonia Clubhouse, Central Advocacy Partners, Link Housing Association, Barchester/Southfield House, Westbank Day Hospital, One Parent Families Scotland and Falkirk Council Social Work.

We continued to deliver a bespoke training programme for the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. This training has been extremely well received, with very positive feedback from NHS staff and patients alike.

Jaggy Thistle Thanks to People and Communities funding we were able to purchase an 8 passenger carrying day boat for Falkirk. This is used for training in the area and also for income generation purposes. Jaggy Thistle has proven very popular and was well booked for the part of the season she was in Falkirk in 2013. We are confident these sales will increase and contribute to the sustainability of Re-Union.

Canal Clean Ups Regular canal clean up sessions took place in 2013 with volunteers showing strong commitment to their role in looking after the canal, venturing out in all weather conditions. Regular clean ups take place resulting in bags of general litter being collected and a wide variety of items being pulled from the canal including bikes, trolleys and road signs.

Events It was a great day weather wise for the seventh Edinburgh Canal Festival and Raft Race on Saturday, 6 th July. There was a wide range of land and water based activities for all ages to enjoy and according the Scottish Canals ‘ped counter’ 5500 passed through the site. Re-Union played a huge role in co-ordinating and managing the event. Volunteers were involved in organising, setting up and dismantling the site and marshalling the area.

Edinburgh Festival Flotilla was another canal event Re-Union took the lead on. Working with the Lowland Canal Volunteer Group and Scottish Canals we hosted a ‘Ceilidh on the Quay’ on Saturday 25 th August. Boats had cruised in from different areas of the Lowland Canals and the event culminated in music, dancing and food at Edinburgh Quay.

We also worked with the Scottish Waterways Trust on a ‘craft bomb’, bringing crafty people together to decorate the Leamington Lift Bridge overnight. This brought lots of supportive comments from the people who use the towpath at this area.

We delivered our very popular Santa Cruises successfully again and these were enjoyed by young and old – and the crew who magically turned into Santa and his little helpers.

Re-Union Canal Boats Ltd 1 Union Path, Edinburgh, EH3 9QB Co Reg 265866 Charity Reg SC035342

Trips & Project Bookings During 2013 we operated 168 trips, 61 private, 1 corporate, 25 community, 16 ticketed events and 65 project sessions. Projects included the Floating Youth Club, Canal College, Broxburn Education Trips, NHS Training and Canal Clean Ups. Total number of passengers - 3876. We started ticketed events through Groupon and have continued to develop this side of our sales. We also had 63 training sessions on board. The number of trips continues to increase which is adding to the sustainability of the organisation.

The Boat The boat has been in service since 2008 and wear and tear is beginning to show but with the care of the skippers and crew and regular attention form our servicing engineers she continues to perform well. We continue to pass all regular Maritime Coastguard Agency examinations which are necessary to comply with regulations governing our operation.

Funders Re-Union would like to thank The Robertson Trust, People and Communities Fund, Prospect Housing Association and Link Housing Association for their continued funding and support.

Capercaillie Cruisers

It was a good year for the holiday hire boats. The Capercaillie team at Falkirk continue to give great service to our customers and they came out top marina in the UK Boat Hire Group for the second year running. The team also won the Falkirk Herald Business Award for Tourism. The staff at Falkirk deliver an efficient, professional and friendly service and thanks to this, and the quality of the boats, sales are on the increase and it is hoped we have now turned a corner and the financial return will help support Re-Union in the longer term.

The Future 2013 was a good year for Re-Union. The awarding of People and Communities Funding which allowed us to develop our training in Edinburgh and replicate the programme in Falkirk allowed us to bring more people on to the canal and develop their skills and confidence. It also allowed us to purchase a new boat for Falkirk bringing in another income stream. Capercaillie had a good year financially as well so overall we have achieved our social aims and also increased our income generation potential.

With the continued support of Board, Staff, Volunteers, Funders and Partners Re-Union constantly strive to support existing programmes and create new projects. This is combined with determination to increase our income generation moving towards sustainability for the organisation. 2013 has given as good base to move forward from and we are looking forward to the challenge of 2014.

Pat Bowie General Manager

Re-Union Canal Boats Ltd 1 Union Path, Edinburgh, EH3 9QB Co Reg 265866 Charity Reg SC035342