The UK’s first accessible canal boat charity

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Welcome to the Peter Le Marchant Trust

We offer fully accessible canal boat trips on the waterways of Leicestershire to people living with physical disabilities and mental health conditions. Our wide beam boats are specially built with hydraulic lifts, and everyone is cared for by our incredible crew and MCA-qualified skippers.

Plan Your Trip

WHAT WE DO

We welcome everyone of all ages on board. Discover how ‘blue health’ drives us.

OUR EVENTS

Find out more about our upcoming seasonal and wellbeing trips.

LATEST UPDATES

Catch up on the latest updates at the Trust.

GET INVOLVED

Join our community of volunteers, fundraisers, and supporters – there’s a role for everyone.

Make a Donation

Your support helps keep our trips affordable and available to those who need them most. We are very grateful for your generosity.

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Our Impact

130+

dedicated volunteers supporting us

5,500+

passengers served each year

370

canal boat trips completed

10,000

cups of tea and coffee served on our boats

Narrowboat moored at canal basin, sunny day

Very relaxing day. Made to feel welcome. All staff and volunteers very friendly and helpful. Would love to do it again!

Passenger Review - Mindfulness & Yoga Trip

I will encourage everyone with special needs (children and adults) to contact this Trust and to book day trips with them. It's a fantastic experience.

Ana Maria - Passenger Review - Day Trip

Very relaxing day. Made to feel welcome. All staff and volunteers very friendly and helpful. Would love to do it again!

Passenger Review - Easter Along the Waterways Trip

Absolutely wonderful. I attended a boat trip with some residents from my work and they all had the most amazing time.

J M - Passenger Review - Day Trip

Check out our latest updates!

A man in a wheelchair and woman talking and smiling on the deck of a canal boat

Important Update: Passenger Lifts Upgrade

We would like to inform our valued passengers and supporters that from Wednesday, 24th September , our charity will begin essential work...

A view of the canal and bridge on a sunny day

The Healing Power of Blue Health: How the Peter Le Marchant Trust Enhances Well-being on the Waterways

We all know the feeling of peace that comes from being near water. The gentle sounds, fresh air and calm surroundings seem to wash away...

Every week, our volunteers help people of all ages and abilities experience the peace of life on the water 🌊🍃

They’re the friendly faces who welcome you on board, the steady hands that keep the boats running smoothly and the creative spirits behind our fundraising and events.

If you're looking for a role that’s rewarding, friendly and community-driven, we’d love to welcome you on board.

Whether you can give a few hours or a couple of days, your time will make a difference, and we truly appreciate it 💙

Learn how to get involved ⤵️

☎️ 01509 265590
📬 info@plmt.org.uk
📲 click the link in bio to visit our website!

We're very pleased to welcome Carl Martin to the Peter Le Marchant Trust team as our new Development Officer 👋

Carl brings a strong background in the voluntary and community sector, with extensive experience in grant applications and fundraising. He’s already completed his induction week with us and is keen to get involved in all aspects of our work.

We’re delighted to have him on board and know he'll be a real asset to the Trust as we continue to grow and develop our services 💙

It was absolutely fantastic to welcome so many visitors to our first Pirate Festival here at the Peter Le Marchant Trust. It was a brilliant day full of smiles, music, prizes and plenty of pirate fun along the waterways!

A big thank you to everyone who joined us and to all those who helped behind the scenes, from our volunteers and crew to the supporters who donated prizes and gave their time.

Together, we raised over £2,000 to support the Trust and help more people enjoy relaxing, accessible trips on the water.

It was a fantastic community day and one we'll remember for a long time 💙

If you're feeling inspired and would like to organise a fundraiser or community event to support us, we'd love to hear from you. Get in touch for ideas and resources:

☎️ 01509 265590
📬 info@plmt.org.uk
📲 click the link in bio to visit our website!

Today, on World Mental Health Day, we're highlighting the vital link between mental wellbeing and the waterways 🌊💚

Research shows that spending time by water can ease anxiety, lower stress and help people feel calmer and more connected; this is known as Blue Health. It’s at the centre of what we do here at Peter Le Marchant Trust.

Through our canal boat trips, we make sure those who might not otherwise have the chance can enjoy the restorative power of the water 💙

👉 Learn more about our work and how you can support us via the link in bio!

@mentalhealthfoundation

It was a real pleasure to welcome members from the New Testament Church of God for a day out on the water. The group brought such a warm spirit with them 💙

The members play an active role in the local community, supporting all ages through activities, food banks and social action, and it was a pleasure to offer them a day of rest and connection on the water.

After their visit, they told us:

“Thank you so much for the trip yesterday. Everyone had a great time and really enjoyed the experience.”

We're delighted they had such a positive day and look forward to welcoming them again in the future.

Interested in booking for your group? Find out more ⤵️

☎️ 01509 265590
📬 info@plmt.org.uk
📲 click the link in bio to visit our website!

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