Chichester Canal celebrating 'significant boost' to fundraising campaign

Chichester Canal has received a funding boost of £10,000 as it continues to campaign for funding to repair the banks of the popular waterway.
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The Chichester Ship Canal Trust has been raising funds to shore up the eroding banks of the canal and 'ensure the towpath and the waterway are safe for the future'.

The aim is to raise £200,000 by April 2022 to celebrate the Chichester Shop Canal Trust’s 200th Anniversary. The initial target of £10,000 was raised two weeks before the December deadline.

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In what has been called a 'significant boost' to the campaign, the charity has been allocated £10,000 of Community Infrastructure Levy from Chichester City Council. The funding was allocated back in September, 'subject to the trust securing funding from other sources'.

The aim is to raise 200,000 by April 2022 to celebrate the Chichester Shop Canal Trusts 200th Anniversary.Photo: Meryn WoodlandThe aim is to raise 200,000 by April 2022 to celebrate the Chichester Shop Canal Trusts 200th Anniversary.Photo: Meryn Woodland
The aim is to raise 200,000 by April 2022 to celebrate the Chichester Shop Canal Trusts 200th Anniversary.Photo: Meryn Woodland

Trustee Catherine Cannon said: "Our recent crowd-funding campaign, run to benefit from Community Initiative Funding from West Sussex County Council, showed we had the support of the local community. Now that support, including £2,000 from the county council, has helped us to unlock really significant funding from the city council.

"We are absolutely thrilled with their support."

Catherine said the support of two of the local councils is 'vital to us', adding: "It shows their recognition of the canal as an important community asset and helps us demonstrate to other grant-making bodies that we are a really serious cause to support.

"Our volunteer team has not embarked on fundraising on this scale before, but with all the support we’ve seen, and knowing how important the canal is not only to Chichester residents but the wider area, we are confident of reaching our ambitious target."

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The trust shared a letter, which was sent by a generous recent donor, which read: "We often cycle and walk along the towpath and enjoy the experience. It is a lovely place, very tranquil, so close to the city centre.

"It is an excellent amenity to have so close to us and I would love to see you keep going and able to offer all the means of enjoying the canal that you do at present."

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