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Our campaign is now complete. 16 supporters helped us raise £1,835.00

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Closed 03/09/2025

River Thames Boat Project & The Windsor Yacht Club

We're grateful to have been chosen as Charity of the Year at The Windsor Yacht Club. Through your collective fundraising efforts, we will be able to support even more marginalised people to experience the River Thames.

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Closed 03/09/2025

River Thames Boat Project provides therapeutic cruises for people of all ages with disabilities and older people, and environmental education for young people. We are a well-established charity with over 30 years history and in June 2021, were honoured to receive The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is the equivalent of an MBE for volunteers. We have 2 wheelchair accessible community boats, Thames Venturer a converted Dutch barge which is over 100 years old and Thames Discoverer, our specially designed river cruise boat. On our boats, we provide a sense of calm, a fresh perspective and a boost to mental health and well-being, as well as educating about rivers and the challenges they face. We operate from Teddington and Kingston and cruise upstream towards Shepperton. Our education days take place at Teddington Lock. We have a small staff team of 4 and over 70 amazing volunteers. It is the commitment and warm, caring and inclusive approach of the staff and volunteers that makes time on the boats very special and memorable.

Story

Why Our Work Matters

Nature remains out of reach for many due to physical, financial, and social barriers:

- 76% of children want more time in nature (National Trust 2024)

- 63% of parents say accessibility is the main barrier

- 92% of people agree nature supports mental health, yet 22% can't access it due to poor health (Natural England)

Our programmes address this need directly — offering inclusive, subsidised access to meaningful outdoor experiences that inspire learning, reduce loneliness, and promote equality.

“This is the best school trip ever!” – Child participant

“Volunteering gives context to my retirement and boosts my mental health.” – Volunteer

“Words can’t describe” how important these cruises are for our passengers. – Help A Neighbour in Distress (HANDS)

Our work is more than boat trips. It’s about belonging, healing, learning, and joy — on the water, with others, in nature.

We invite you to help us keep the Thames open to all.

Donation summary

Total
£1,834.81
+ £452.75 Gift Aid
Online
£1,834.81
Offline
£0.00
Direct
£1,834.81
Fundraisers
£0.00

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