Why Beatrice is important

The need

In 2001 the ‘Valuing People’ White Paper said:“People with learning disabilities and their families have the same human rights as everyone else” and they should “be able to participate in all the aspects of community – to work, learn, get about and meet people, be part of social networks and access goods and services – and to have the support to do so.”

In 2002 the ‘Every Child Matters’ report recognised:

“People’s rights to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve.”

In 2007 the ‘Valuing People Now’ White Paper said:

“People with disabilities are often not connected to their communities or given meaningful vocational, social, leisure or learning activities”.

Prince Charles, who sponsored the scheme under which the first boat was built, said:

“A trip on a canal boat, with its gentle progress, is the nearest a disabled person may come to enjoying a walk in the countryside”.

How we help

At Beatrice we recognise the needs identified in those official documents, and more.

An outing on Beatrice is a wonderful experience.  We are proud of the part we play in making  the lives of people with additional educational  needs and  disabilities more rewarding.

Each trip on the Beatrice provides a safe activity which contributes towards a healthy and social life.  We help groups of children and adults get the most out of life through an enjoyable activity, which assists learning and which reinforces community and cooperation.

Beatrice helps people with additional educational needs, the elderly and those with other disabilities:to feel connected, with each other and those who care for them, and with societyto enjoy and learn from boating activityto develop confidence, partly through helping to work the locks and, for those who have become house-bound and solitary, simply being in a social groupand to appreciate particularly beautiful countryside.