Fund Britain’s Waterways Update, August 2024
Dear FBW member/supporter,
The new Government brings new opportunities for Fund Britain’s Waterways to engage and get the message across that our waterways are already deteriorating and need proper funding. In order to do that we need a renewed push to get signatures on the petition and member organisations recruited, to demonstrate how many people think this is an important cause. And in order to do that we need help from YOU, our members.
FBW’s member organisations represent hundreds of thousands of people. We should therefore be able to count on the support of a good proportion of those hundreds of thousands, yet we have only just passed 52,000 signatures on the petition and 130 member organisations. It is clear that the message is not getting through to members and supporters of FBW’s own member organisations. To address this we would like to ask you to:
- Circulate this update to all your members, staff, colleagues, customers, suppliers etc
- Actively participate in our forthcoming social media push and ask your members, staff, colleagues, customers, suppliers etc to do the same
- Help us to recruit more member organisations
- Contact your MP
- Volunteer to help deliver FBW’s campaign.
Social Media Push
We need to build enthusiasm to get the petition signed and we want it to go viral again. We are therefore asking all FBW members and supporters to join us in posting the same message at the same time over a period of just over a week as MPs return to Parliament at the start of October. The message is simple: “We have a new government – let’s make sure they know we want them to protect our canals and rivers. Sign the petition and write to your MP.”
We will supply content and timing nearer the time. Watch out for updates.
Recruiting New Members
FBW now has over 130 member organisations, which is excellent but we need even more, particularly those who have non boating interests in the waterways. Please do invite any organisation with an interest in the inland waterways to join FBW (just ask them to email membership@fundbritainswaterways.org.uk). You can also let us have suggestions for those we should invite by emailing the same address.
Contacting Your MP
The more people who contact their new MPs the more they will realise that action is needed on the waterways. Please contact your MP and explain the benefits that the waterways provide, how important they are to the country and to you, and what is needed to protect them and ensure that future generations can continue to benefit from them. Guidance is available at https://waterways.org.uk/campaigns/waterways-for-today/lobby-your-mp
Recruiting Volunteers
We need more volunteers to augment the group who have run the campaign for over a year, and to enable us to keep pushing forward. Please have a look at the areas where we particularly need more support and get in touch if you can help with these or any other areas. Also please promote these volunteer opportunities as widely as you can on social media and in other communications.
And of course, please do keep organising and attending events, supporting FBW on social media and raising awareness as widely as possible. Please send photos of all your FBW activities to info@fundbritainswaterways.org.uk.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Les Etheridge, Chair of Fund Britain’s Waterways
info@fundbritainswaterways.org.uk
