Disabled Londoners offered free cruises by boat hire firm

A London boat rental company which offers free community cruises for disabled communities is continuing its initiative for a second year.

GoBoat London started giving free tours between Paddington Basin and Camden Lock last year to help vulnerable groups “connect better to society” after lockdown.

After the success of last year’s initiative, the eco-friendly company is set to carry out the scheme again this autumn, with the aim of giving people with disabilities“respite from social issues” and the “rising cost of living”.

Every Tuesday from September 27 to the end of October, GoBoat will provide free one hour boat trips to community groups or charities on their local water space.

The tours will start from three locations in London, including Canary Wharf, Paddington and Kingston.

One charity that has already signed up to the initiative is the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), working to remove barriers for more than two million people living with sight loss.

Nanjiba Misbah, RNIB’s community connections co-ordinator for London and the South East said: “For blind and partially sighted people, the cost of travel can make accessing opportunities to spend time in nature more difficult, so RNIB is pleased to be working with GoBoat again to offer free one hour boat rides in Kingston for members of the community.

“It’s a much-needed chance to connect with others and experience a slower pace of life on the water.

“We hope that this initiative will help those within our community take time out to enjoy a memorable experience onboard with GoBoat.”

Grant Sweeney, co-founder of GoBoat, said: “Our mission at GoBoat has always been about helping more people get onto the UK’s amazing waterways.

“Working with charities and community groups in areas local to our sites means that we can deliver our unique experience to those who might otherwise be unable to try it for themselves.

“We have already had some fantastic trips out on the water with groups from charities such as RNIB and Tear Fund, so we are really pleased to be able to expand the operation to Birmingham and Kingston this season.”

Last year LondonWorld joined a group from the Empowering Deaf Society on their cruise.

Suzie Aries, a communications support worker for Empowering Deaf Society, said that the initiative was a fantastic opportunity for the deaf community.

“Days like this are absolutely fantastic for the deaf community. It means that everyone can come together, they can talk to each other and it’s really fantastic,” she told LondonWorld.

“Throughout the pandemic it’s been really difficult for the deaf community because they rely on face-to-face communication so during lockdown that was impossible for them but now they can communicate and go face-to-face.

“An activity like GoBoat is really great because they can meet and chat to each other and have a really nice time.”

More information about the cruises can be found on the company’s website at https://goboat.co.uk/