National Waterways Museum and Waterways World have joined forces to set up the Supporters' Scheme - an initiative to care for Britain's historic inland waterways fleet. Supporters receive;
* a subscription to NarrowBoat magazine, published four times a year (worth £17.80)
* free entry to the National Waterways Museum and its sister museums, Gloucester Waterways Museum and The Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne (worth up to £5.50 per visit)
* twice yearly updates on the boat restoration work you are supporting
* 10% discount on all books published by Waterways World Ltd
* 10% discount in all National Waterways Museum shops and cafés
Our work restoring historic boats
At the National Waterways Museum we care for a nationally important collection of 80 historic boats, from a 1000 year old log boat to a concrete barge and from a coracle to a grad dredger.
* restore and maintain our historic boats
* put more boats back on display at the museum and out on the waterway network
* train others, especially young people, in traditional boat building and repair skills
* repair boats from elsewhere to provide a regular income for the boatyard
* help bring the museum site to life for visitors
A dedicated team of staff, volunteers and students works on the boats and we employ a skilled boat builder to train volunteers and students. Good progress is being made and the Supporters' Scheme is helping this work to happen and buying essential wood, paint, canvas and engine parts.
How the Supporters' Scheme works
The scheme is a partnership between National Waterways Museum (NWM) and NarrowBoat magazine publishers, Waterways World. Waterways World administers the scheme and NWM volunteers and staff work on the boats. Both offer benefits to Supporters (see above).
* From your payment of £39 at least £20 will go to the museum.
** From your payment of £49 at least £30 will go to the museum. You will receive one subscription to NarrowBoat Magazine and you will both get free entry to National Waterway Museum and its sister museums.
