Amazing volunteers at Yorkshire canals charity celebrating royal seal of approval
There can be few activities more soothing for the soul than a trip down one of Yorkshire’s waterways on a canal boat.
That’s something the 150 volunteers at the Safe Anchor Trust know all too well, as they devote hundreds of hours each year to helping disabled people and those living with social isolation explore the Calder river.
And this year marks two very special celebrations - the charity’s 30th anniversary and its recognition with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to UK volunteers.
The Safe Anchor Trust, based from Shepley Bridge Marina in Mirfield, owns four boats including two broad beam boats especially designed for wheelchair access.
Between the beginning of March and end of October each year, the charity carries some 10,000 passengers at no cost.
Chairman Kevin Musgrave said: “Safe Anchor is important to the local community, we have a society at the moment where so many people are socially isolated with less and less support.
“What we bring is a sense of belonging. We work with a lot of people with severe disabilities and it allows them to go on days out and enjoy it. We see them grow in confidence when it comes to steering the boat.
“I think everyone recognises that being by canals and water helps mental health and is a form of therapy.
“Because we’ve been going 30 years, we’ve got some longstanding relationships with lots of different groups, some of whom do two or three trips a year, our volunteers know what they want.”
Reflecting on his pride in the volunteers, Mr Musgrave said: “There’s a great sense of pride throughout the charity. A lot of our volunteers have been doing this 30 years, and we have people now volunteering in their 80s.
“This award means so much to them. We are immensely proud.”
One of those volunteers is Bill Bartholomew, who at 75 has worked with the Trust since its inception.
Mr Bartholomew’s remit is now managing the Trust’s environmental efforts to keep the waterways clean.
“We do a lot of litter clearing out of the canal and cut a lot of vegetation down,” he said. “We do a wide variety of jobs - from painting locks to laying cobbles and dry stone walling.
“I’ve been involved with our work boat since we got it 25 years ago.
“But I’ve been involved with Safe Anchor from the very beginning. The people I’ve met over the years have been amazing. We realised how many people couldn’t have afforded to get on the water ways.
“Being out on the boat is soothing, particularly on nice sunny days. You see all the seasons and meet so many people.”
The charity is now appealing for more volunteers to come forward to ensure the future of the Trust.
Representatives of Safe Anchor Trust will receive the award from Mr Ed Anderson, Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire in the coming months. In addition, two volunteers from Safe Anchor Trust will attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May and June 2026, along with other recipients of this year’s award.