Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs facts for kids
The Association of Waterways Cruising Clubs (AWCC) is a group that helps boat owners in England, UK. It's like a big club for many smaller boat clubs. The AWCC works to make boating safer and more fun for everyone on the waterways.
How it Started
The AWCC began in the early 1960s. It was started by four boat clubs: St Pancras, Dunstable, Uxbridge, and Lee and Stort. Their main idea was to create a system where boaters could get help in an emergency. They also wanted to make sure there were safe places for boats to stay overnight.
The Association quickly grew from these four clubs to eighteen. They even published their first handbook. This book listed where clubs were located and how to contact them. By the late 1970s, there were eighty clubs! Because of this growth, they decided to organize themselves into different regions.
What the AWCC Does Today
Today, the AWCC represents over 20,000 boat owners. These owners are members of more than one hundred different cruising clubs. The AWCC is a voluntary association, meaning people help out because they want to.
The association talks and works with important groups like British Waterways and the Environment Agency. They discuss things that affect boaters and the waterways. The AWCC is also part of the Parliamentary Waterways Group. This means they have a voice in government discussions about canals and rivers. Their main goal is to look after the interests of boaters and their clubs.
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