ABOUT THE PETER LE MARCHANT TRUST
Bringing calm, connection and community to the waterways
Peter Le Marchant Trust is a registered charity based in Loughborough, offering inclusive and accessible canal boat experiences across the scenic waterways of Leicestershire. Founded in 1976, we are dedicated to supporting people living with disabilities, life-limiting conditions and mental health challenges by creating safe, welcoming spaces to relax, connect and enjoy time in nature.
Our mission is simple: to offer the therapeutic benefits of time on the water to everyone, regardless of physical or financial barriers. Through a wide range of seasonal and wellbeing-focused trips, we help individuals, families, schools, groups and care homes experience the benefits of Blue Health.
Our work is powered by a small staff team and over 100 incredible volunteers, from skippers and crew to gardeners and fundraising champions. Together, we provide trips seven days a week during the boating season, maintaining our accessible fleet and ensuring every journey is smooth, safe and full of care.
OUR HISTORY
Our Mission
The Trust’s mission is to give people of all ages with physical disabilities and mental health conditions the opportunity to experience a restorative boat trip in an environment built to recognise their needs. The Trust also offers respite for carers and welcomes people to a safe space where no one is judged, and everyone cares about providing days of brightness that make a positive difference.
We have an ambitious vision to expand our fleet of accessible canal boats, improve our base facilities and ensure we provide the best possible services for our passengers, including those living with disabilities, health conditions or other challenges, as well as for our visitors, partners and the wider community.
Our Vision
OUR VALUES
Every person who steps aboard one of our boats brings their own story, needs and reasons for setting out on the water. Those stories shape our values. They reflect our belief in creating space for calm, connection and possibility, especially for those living with disability, illness or challenge. From our skippers and volunteers to our crew and gardeners, everything we do is grounded in empathy, welcome and respect for the people we serve.
Community
We will bring people and organisations together and make connections in our communities based on mutual trust and understanding. The Trust believes by sharing, learning, working and contributing together, we can achieve more beneficial outcomes.
Creativity
We strive to be creative and enterprising in our pursuit to unlock the potential and inspiration behind delivering a great service and providing enjoyable, enriching experiences for our customers
Teamwork
We aim to have a one-team culture where we continually release the potential of all the people who form part of the Trust, and work enthusiastically together to achieve our goals, ambitions and outcomes.
Stewardship
We will identify what is important, set clear objectives and implement best practice in sustaining and managing the Trust’s resources and assets. We will set high standards for financial management, operations, and administration.
Compassion
We will provide a caring and supportive environment for all our customers and show kindness, care and a willingness to go the extra mile to meet their needs.
Integrity
We will treat people fairly and ensure all our activities are conducted in a way that is honest and transparent and follow strong and consistent ethical principles and values.
OUR AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
We’re proud to have been recognised for our commitment to volunteering, accessibility and community wellbeing. These awards reflect the dedication of our team and the heart our volunteers bring to every trip.
2012
We were awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service – equivalent to an MBE for our volunteers.
OUR FUNDERS
We’re incredibly grateful to the funders, partners and local organisations who help make our work possible. Their support allows us to run more trips, keep our boats maintained and ensure our experiences remain affordable for those who need them most.
