Staff member shares 11-year experience of 'life on a canal' as Muir supports its Charity of the Year
A MEMBER of Muir’s Supported Housing team has shared her experiences of living on a canal after the housing association recently announced its 2017-18 Charity of the Year.
Sheltered Housing Project Officer, Maxine Bailey, lived on a wooden canal boat for more than 11 years and nominated The Wooden Canal Boat Society to be Muir’s Charity of the Year.
The society, offers respite for disadvantaged people and those suffering poor mental health, while also preserving traditional boat building skills and the history surrounding their operation.
It was drawn out of a hat to be named Muir’s Charity of the Year after employees submitted more than 40 nominations.
Maxine, 52, who volunteers with the society, has since lifted the lid on what it is like to live on a canal boat, as well as how important the society has proved in helping to change people’s lives.
“I started living on a boat because I wanted to be a bit of a nomad,” said Maxine (pictured) who has worked at Muir for eight years.
“Having a house and a mortgage didn’t appeal to me, but I loved life on a canal boat.
“It felt very safe and cosy. It was a special feeling you don’t get with a house – I do have a very romantic idea about it all.
“The whole thing of waking up and looking out onto the water and seeing so much wildlife was wonderful.
“I felt closer to nature and was more aware of the changing seasons.
“I felt more self-sufficient rather than relying on gas or energy companies.
“We had to gather and chop our own wood to keep warm and get our own water, and the smell of the wooden boat was so lovely too.
“We had a composting toilet that used sawdust and we used to make and burn our own candles, and used paraffin lamps for light.
“Canal boats are such a big part of my life. I learnt to paint them and do the signwriting while living on canals in areas such as Macclesfield and Runcorn.
“My daughter grew up on our boat ‘Hazel’ which we moved on when she was three, and she tells me she had a great childhood.”
‘Hazel’ has recently been beautifully restored and turned into a wellbeing boat providing cruises in and around Tameside for people suffering from poor mental health and other difficulties – its restoration been partially supported by The Big Lottery as well as various other sponsors.
Muir will raise money for the charity, during a programme of internal events. It will also be bringing you a series of feature stories surrounding the good work done by The Wooden Canal Boat Society, whose boats operate on various waterways throughout the country, during the next 12 months.
Under its motto of creating ‘new lives from old boats’, the society engages engage the community in a variety of activities such as boat recycling trips, running a charity shop, boat restoration, and repairs and maintenance.
It also enjoys the help of up to 100 volunteers per year with its various projects and events, having been initially co-founded by Chris Lea in 1987.
“When I joined the WCBS it was only a small charity, it was called the Wooden Canal Boat Trust then,” said Maxine, who now lives on a steel boat.
“Chris has always been the inspiration and motivation behind it all, and I admire his tireless energy, idealism and commitment immensely.
“It is as much about people as it is about boats, helping them enjoy a better life while learning new skills and feeling part of something, so I was really chuffed to find out it was to be Muir’s Charity of the Year,” she added.
Wayne Pearson, chairman of Muir’s TAG Team staff association said: “I am delighted that Muir will be supporting such a good cause which is focused on helping people experiencing loneliness and social exclusion by providing volunteering and employment opportunities.
“We hope to raise money for the charity and work with volunteers to promote the very good service it provides.”
To learn more about The Wooden Canal Boat Society, including volunteering opportunities, restoration projects and the good work done to counter social isolation and respite need, visit the charity’s website at www.wcbs.org.uk
