Plans to open Canal College in Inverness

Plans to open Scottish Waterways Trust’s pioneering canal college skills training programme in Inverness took a step closer with the award of a Stage One development grant of £21,700 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and support from Scottish Canals.

The development funding enables the Trust, which is Scotland’s only national waterways charity, to create plans for canal college 2, which will open in Inverness in 2017 if the full £1.4m in funding can be secured.

This will be the second term of canal college, which ran in Edinburgh and Falkirk between 2013 – 2015.

Steven Wiseman, a Scottish Waterways heritage officer, is based at the Caledonian Canal. He explains about the project:-

With canal college 2, Scottish Waterways Trust aims to reach over twice as many unemployed people (360 participants) by expanding the length of the programme, the number of locations where the heritage skills and employability training course is offered and the age criteria.

Canal college 2, it is hoped, will run over three years instead of the previous two year term, with the 12 week course offered once again in Falkirk and at two brand new locations, on the Caledonian Canal in Inverness and on the Forth & Clyde Canal in West Dunbartonshire.

The age criteria will be extended from 16-25 to 16-30 years of age.

canal college, Scottish Waterways Trust’s largest project to date, helped 162 young people facing significant barriers in their lives between 2013 and 2015 with 72% moving into work, further education or training after the course.

Learning through practical projects in the unique outdoors environment of Scotland’s canals, 360 volunteer participants will take part in canal college 2, gaining new, transferable skills, accredited heritage and volunteering certificates and qualifications and the vital confidence they need to create a brighter future for themselves.

The support and involvement of volunteer mentors has proven to be integral to the success of canal college, which is offered free to all participants.

During the first canal college, 24 volunteer mentors contributed their own skills and life learning to help participants learn about the built, cultural and natural heritage of the canals, whilst improving their own confidence and employability prospects.

By involving volunteer mentors, individuals and partners across the local waterside communities once again, it is hoped that canal college 2 will engage a total of 860 people across the Lowland and Highland locations.

The support from HLF and Scottish Canals will enable Scottish Waterways Trust to develop the training programme and submit a detailed application for second stage funding to HLF. If successful, Scottish Waterways Trust will then seek further match funding and partners to deliver the programme.

It is hoped that canal college 2 will open in Summer 2017 and run until 2020.

Karen Moore, Chief Executive, Scottish Waterways Trust, said: “The outstanding success of the first canal college, along with our other established youth employability programme Green Action, has inspired our bold and ambitious plans to grow canal college exponentially, expanding across the Lowlands and into the Highlands.

“If we secure funding for canal college 2, we will be able to help twice as many young unemployed adults who have faced serious barriers in their life, whether learning or behavioural difficulties or chaotic home lives.

“Growing the scope of canal college so significantly also means we will contribute even more to sustaining and caring for the amazing historic waterways and the wildlife they are home to. Through our first canal college, volunteers contributed a staggering 19,568 hours of time working on practical projects. Through canal college 2, we will double that impact across both the Lowland and Highland canals.”

Lucy Casot, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, added: “As partners in the original canal college project, we have seen just how big a difference this initiative has made to so many people’s lives. The canals have provided powerful and memorable experiences for young people, opening their eyes to the natural heritage and to their own potential. We are delighted that thanks to players of the National Lottery, we are able to support the next step in the development of this important project.”

Steve Dunlop, Chief Executive of Scottish Canals, added:

“Scottish Canals is exceptionally proud to support canal college. The first phase of the project was a resounding success and saw each of its graduates learn vital skills while helping to care for the incredible environments of the nation’s canals.

“Our staff, who helped train the students in everything from stonemasonry to archaeological surveying, were incredibly impressed by their dedication, commitment and willingness to learn. Indeed, some of the graduates have since moved into full-time roles within Scottish Canals.

“Expanding the scope of canal college will build on that success, helping to safeguard the rich, 200-year-old heritage of the nation’s canals and giving much-needed new opportunities, skills and confidence to even more of Scotland’s young people. We look forward to supporting the Scottish Waterways Trust throughout the funding application process and beyond.”

Angus Harkness, canal college participant, now Apprentice Stonemason with Scottish Canals, concluded: “I made the decision to move to Edinburgh when I heard about canal college. It was a brilliant decision. Learning about the history and heritage of the waterways was all new to me but I really enjoyed it. There was a lot of practical work too, which I loved. It’s not every day you get to help repair a 200-year-old weir! Without canal college and the following placement with Scottish Canals, I don’t know where I’d be or what I’d be doing. I’m incredibly thankful to everyone who’s helped me get to where I am today.”

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