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National Community Boats Association facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Community Boat, Seagull Trust
A community boat from the Seagull Trust, helping people enjoy the waterways.

The National Community Boats Association (NCBA) is a special group in the United Kingdom. It's like a club that helps people get out onto the water. They are a registered charity, which means they work to help others and not just to make money. They also encourage more people to use the UK's waterways, like canals and rivers.

The NCBA's main office is at the Yorkshire Waterways Museum in Goole. They held a big meeting called a National Conference in late 2008 to discuss their work.

Who Are the Members?

The NCBA has more than 100 groups that are members. These groups are called community boat projects. They are located all over the UK.

These member groups run boats that are made to be easy for everyone to use. This includes people with disabilities, those with learning difficulties, and groups who might not usually get to go boating. They also help people of all ages.

Every year, these groups help about 250,000 passengers. That's a lot of people enjoying the water!

Meet Some Member Groups

Here are some of the many amazing groups that are part of the National Community Boats Association:

  • Tarporley - Camden Canal & Narrowboat's Historic Northwich Narrowboat - Regents Canal, London, UK

    CCNA's Historic Narrowboat 'Tarporley' on the Regent's Canal.

Training for Boat Crews

The NCBA also helps train people who run and manage community boats. This makes sure everyone is safe and knows what they are doing.

One important course is the Certificate in Community Boat Management. This is a national course for the people who steer the boats (called helmsmen) and the rest of the crew. It teaches them how to work with young people, older people, and those with special needs on the water.

Other courses they offer include:

  • Basic Boat Handling
  • Complete Crew Course
  • Regional Training Moderator
  • Senior Trainer
  • CCBM Training Endorsement
  • Additional Course Units

Special Projects for Young People and Families

The NCBA runs two special projects to help even more people:

  • Y-AFLOAT: This project gets young people involved in community boating. It helps them learn new skills and have fun on the water.
  • Prisons Project: This project helps people who have been in trouble with the law to reconnect with their families. It uses boating as a way for families to spend time together.

The UK Government's Department for Education and Skills once gave the NCBA a grant of £123,990. This money helped them do more youth work.

See also

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