Local liveaboards, waterway businesses and charities have joined together to keep supplies going to boaters during the coronavirus lockdown, including an extension of the Pay It Forward scheme where you can donate to cover the cost of fuel or food for someone who is struggling financially.
Community shop and allotment at the Barge Inn, Honeystreet
The lovely people at the Barge Inn have done everything they can to support the liveaboard boater community during this difficult time. They have helped to set up a pop-up community shop and veg box scheme, given over some land to dig an allotment and have set up a pay it forward scheme to give fresh food to boaters in need.
The shop supplies locally sourced fresh produce from the Pewsey Vale, it is not for profit and is run by volunteers. You can order by email to shopbarge@gmail.com
Order by noon on Monday for Tuesday collection and noon Thursday for Saturday collection. You can also buy a fruit, vegetable or salad box for people in need. Collection is from The Barge Inn; surnames A – G collect between 12 noon and 1pm, H – Z between 1pm and 4pm. Please bring your own bags. All payments are to be contactless for the moment.
See https://www.facebook.com/groups/545320979436179/ for the prices and the list of produce available.
Floaty Boat Fund fruit and veg box deliveries between Hilperton and Bath
The Floaty Boat Fund has set up a fruit and veg box scheme and the Canal Ministries team will deliver to boats between Hilperton and Bath on nb Litania. A family box costs £8.00 and a regular box £5.00. The plan is to deliver to boats every Thursday. A trial run last week was successful and the scheme will continue. To order and give your boat’s location, to pay and to donate a pay it forward for those who are struggling, use the ‘Donate’ button on the Floaty Boat Fund web site here
http://www.floatyboatfund.com/ and see also https://www.facebook.com/floatyboatfund/
Chandlery, fuel and pay it forward for fuel
Devizes Marina is offering ordering and safe pickup if anyone needs anything for DIY purposes. If it is in stock at Midland Chandlers, they should be able to get it. Contact 01380 725300 or email sales@devizesmarina.com
The Boatyard, Hilperton is open as usual Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5pm. The coal boat is operating below Caen Hill and can also deliver items from their chandlery.
Spencer and Victoria say “Stay indoors and stay safe but please say hello through your window so we know you are ok. If you have ordered gas please leave your empty out – if you can’t take your empty out we will help if you have notified us you can’t do this – so no empty no gas. If buying diesel, make sure we have access to the filler by lifting covers and clearing the decks and leaving the filler unlocked. This will help us spend as little time at your boat as possible, of course if we get sick we can’t operate. Please pay by bank transfer promptly or pay by card over the phone. If you can only pay by cash please leave it out in a pre-advised place”. Contact Spencer and Victoria, 07790 017418.
Frederick the Fuel Boat is currently in the Long Pound, contact 07508 904378. Ozzie Fuel Boat is east of the Wootton Rivers stoppage, contact 07503 588523.
All three fuel boats are operating Pay it Forward – contact them if you need fuel and can’t pay, or to make a donation to help someone else.
Tags: canal ministries, chandlery, coal and diesel boats, Coronavirus, Floaty Boat Fund, food, Frederick the Fuel Boat, fruit and veg box, fuel, liveaboards, nb Litania, Ozzie Fuel Boat, Pay It Forward, the Barge Inn Honeystreet, The Boatyard Hilperton