Email: Not very helpful

I'm certainly not finding British Waterways to be very helpful. (A copy of an email sent to Caroline Spelman, Robin Evans and trustees of Canal & River Trust).

Imagine this:

A rusting swing bridge owned by British Waterways. A 'volunteer' force ( accredited with the required H&S certification).  The paint required provided by AkzoNobel, free of charge...

An opportunity for the community to improve the 'image' of the area where we have been so badly let down by British Waterways.

You are a key transitional Trustee as CEO.

I've just called British Waterways for your email address—can't give it out. Honestly!

I've read about the concerns transitional Trustees have over the £39m annual 'stipend' to be paid to the Canal & River Trust over the next 10 years.

Guess what?  Our neglected bridge wants £4m of that money (allegedly). This problem has been known about for 14 years at least, so it should have been accounted for—somewhere!

The more I look into this, the more concerned I get.

The transitional Trustees are gathered from very successful fundraising/volunteer-enabling groups.

To enthuse your groups you have to create a 'certain' culture. Look closely at the way we have been treated. You decide if that represents a 'culture' that will make volunteering and fundraising a success.

I'm not too sure.

Tom Reynolds.