Canoe Foundation’s 2022 Year In Review

2022 was quite the year for the Canoe Foundation and we’re pleased to announce our Annual Report summary below. We’re so proud of all we achieved last year, and look forward to even more successes in 2023!

2022 Highlights

1. Current focus on ‘Improving Places to Paddle’
2. £49,000 awarded to projects across the UK in grant funding
3. Nine completed projects 
4. 20 projects in progress or planned, awarded an aggregate £115,000 of grants from the Foundation
5. Increased promotion of activities especially via social media and the Canoe Foundation website
6. Part-time Fundraising and Marketing Lead recruited mid November 2022

The Canoe Foundation awarded £49,000 in grant funding to projects across the UK through one funding cycle in 2022, improving sustainable places to get on and off British waterways. The projects the Foundation supported in 2022 helped to improve physical access points and infrastructure, protect habitats and support quality experiences on the water. 

Grant funding was available to projects for public paddling benefit across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with a large number of enquiries and applications. The Canoe Foundation paused the funding cycles while short of resources, but with a new part-time dedicated officer in place will soon open the first window for 2023 applications. We hope to have a second funding window opening later this year.

Projects Funded

Spring 2022

The projects that were granted funding included:

1. Bala Mill – access steps for Lower Tryweryn – £5,000
2. Lliedi water authority reservoir (Llanelli) –  assisting public access – £5,000
3. Elmbridge Canoe Club – new pontoon for Thames river access – £6,000
4. Wey and Arun – new pontoon on navigable section – £6,000
5. Spey users access track improvements to Aeynon Pool – £7,500
6. River Wye promotion of responsible use and protecting the environment – up to £10,000

Projects completed in 2022

The following projects were successfully completed and are now being used by paddlers:

1. Medway – new trail guide and information
2. Tinsley Marina – Endeavour and Canals & River Trust partnership with a canoe hub
3. Calvert Trust at Wistlandpound Reservoir, Exmoor– disability hoist for their paddling activities
4. River Waveney lock pontoon
5. Ruby’s Yard community centre canal access 
6. Elmbridge pontoon for general access to the Thames
7. Seven Sisters Park Sussex – access for visitors to river and erosion prevention
8. Wey and Arun pontoon
9. Spey users access track  

Funds and donations

The Canoe Foundation’s grant programme was built on a few legacy donations received over 10 years ago, with funds continuing to dwindle as we award more grants. We would like to sincerely thank the significant number of people who made donations alongside purchase of their British Canoeing membership and in other places online over the last couple of years. If we can increase the numbers of people making donations, we will be able to sustain our grant-giving and broaden them in future years. 

We are very pleased to be nominated as a charity partner by the Scottish Canoe Association and as the official charity partner for the Canoe Slalom World Championships in September 2023. At this important event we will be looking to increase our profile and to publicise our work on improving access to water for paddlesports in the UK.

All in all, we’re proud of what we achieved last year and are looking forward to another successful year in 2023!