THE SAFE ANCHOR TRUST that organises boat trips for disabled and vulnerable passengers have been celebrating the 30th anniversary of the volunteers charity.
The Safe Anchor Trust have organised trips for more than 7,500 people in the past year on its four boats on the Calder & Hebble Navigation, reports Janet Friend.
A single boat
It all started in 1995 with a single boat, The Lady Rhodes. It now has several specially adapted vessels and is supported by about 150 volunteers.
Kevin Rhodes, one of the volunteers, explained:
"Whether it's the water, or relaxing, people absolutely love it on the boat."
The charity gets people out in the community, getting them on the water—living life as full as they can.
The boats travel along the Calder & Hebble Navigation and the organisation has told its aim is to make time on the water available to everyone.
Get up and steer
Even blind and partially sighted people who will actually get up and steer the boat, and the boats are also used by people with conditions such as dementia.
The charity, which is based at Shepley Bridge Marina, has been nominated for a King's Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK.