Health and Wellbeing events for boaters on nb Litania

November 1st, 2023

Julian House Travelling Communities  Support Service will be visiting Bradford Lock on 7th November 2023 and Caen Hill Marina on 14th November 2023 with nb Litania at 11am to 4.30pm. They will be providing Covid 19 and Flu vaccinations to boaters who are in the eligible groups: age 65 and over and other people who are eligible due to specific health conditions etc. There will also be support and information on welfare; other health matters, and free Boat Fire Safety packs and first aid kits.

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BaNES Council Better Moorings Project job vacancy

November 1st, 2023

BaNES Council is recruiting for a project manager with knowledge of boating to lead its Better Moorings Project. The closing date for applications is 5th November. See https://jobsandcareers.bathnes.gov.uk/ and search for Better Moorings Project Manager.

BaNES Council says that the Better Moorings Project is:

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Public Health Wiltshire Boaters’ Survey – respond by 27th October

October 17th, 2023

Public Health Wiltshire is running a boaters’ survey to find out about the health and other needs of liveaboard boaters who live or travel in Wiltshire. The purpose of the survey is to determine what boaters’needs are and how they can be met. The more boaters who complete the survey, the more evidence there is for extending or setting up services such as Julian House Travelling Communities Support into Wiltshire and the K&A canal.

You can complete the survey online here

https://surveys.wiltshire.gov.uk/s/boaters

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Boaters’ meeting to discuss licence fee surcharge, 15th October, Bradford on Avon

October 11th, 2023

There will be a boaters’ meeting to discuss the CRT surcharges for boats without a home mooring; lack of facilities; lack of waterway maintenance and other issues that affect the community of liveaboard boaters on the K&A, and what we can do to protect our way of life.

The meeting will take place at 5pm on Sunday 15th October 2023 at the Wallington Hall, Church St, Bradford on Avon BA15 1LN. Church St is opposite the Dandy Lion pub; the hall used to be called the Masonic Hall or the Church Hall.

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CRT impose surcharge on boat licences without a home mooring

October 11th, 2023

Following the CRT consultation on licence fees in March this year, CRT announced on 5th October 2023 that it would impose a surcharge on licences without a home mooring, making these licences more expensive than licences for boats with a home mooring. We oppose this discriminatory and unfair move, which is the biggest attack on the community of liveaboard boaters without a home mooring since CRT’s 2015 enforcement policy for boats without a home mooring.

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Boaters invited to anti-poverty meeting with MP to raise exclusion from energy bill support

October 5th, 2023

Liveaboard boaters are invited to an event in Pewsey tomorrow, Friday 6th October, where Danny Kruger, the MP for Devizes, Marlborough and Pewsey will be attending. The event is organised by Devizes and District Food Bank, which has supported boaters in our struggle to receive the energy bill support that the Government promised to ‘every household’. Many liveaboard boaters are still excluded, despite the Government decision to pay the grant to boaters licensed by CRT without a home mooring.

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What to do if you are still excluded from the Energy Bills Support Scheme

September 4th, 2023

Many people remain excluded from the Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS), despite the grant being promised to every household in the UK. You may still be excluded from the £400 EBSS Alternative Funding and £200 EBSS Alternative Fuels Payment if you:

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Continuous cruisers to get energy bills support – deadline extended to Mon 28th Aug

August 18th, 2023

UPDATE – the deadline to make sure your details are correct with CRT has been extended to 28th August!

After great efforts of the National Bargee Travellers Association (NBTA) and others campaigning for the energy grant, many boaters without a home mooring on CRT waterways can now get £600 each.

The Department for Energy and Net Zero (ESNZ) and CRT made an announcement yesterday that 7,000 live-aboard boaters without a home mooring will receive a voucher redeemable for cash of £600. This is the result of a concerted effort by dedicated people who took up the fight for inclusion.

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Select Committee seeks testimony from people excluded from Energy Bills Support Scheme – send your story to Parliament before 25th August!

July 29th, 2023

The Energy Security and Net Zero (ESNZ) Parliamentary Committee is to carry out an inquiry into Preparing for the Winter, including the continued exclusion of boat dwellers and other itinerant or off-grid households from the Government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS). The Committee will hear verbal and written evidence in September 2023. You can send your own testimony to the Committee by email to commonsesnz@parliament.uk or by post to-Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA. You can also submit evidence online here: https://committees.parliament.uk/call-for-evidence/3185/

The deadline for submitting your evidence is 25th August.

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Kennet and Avon Floating Summer Fayre, Bath, July 29th and 30th

July 27th, 2023

The Kennet and Avon Floating Fayre will be at Darlington Wharf, Bath this weekend  on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th July 2023 from 10am to 5pm with a fantastic array of traders and entertainment.

Dog Rose Crafts will be at the Floating Fayre. Photo: Dog Rose Crafts

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