PEOPLE are being asked to support an appeal to help volunteers working on a project to restore the Lichfield Canal.
Almost £18,000 of the required £30,000 target has been reached in the Welfare Unit Appeal.
Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust (LHCRT) is hoping to fund essential facilities for volunteers to have a warm and dry place to rest and change during construction work.
Chris Bailey, construction and operations trustee at LHCRT, said:
“Our volunteers are the heart of this project. They work incredibly hard, often in cold, wet and muddy conditions. These welfare units aren’t a luxury – they’re essential for safety, dignity and wellbeing.
“We’re asking everyone who cares about the canal to help us reach the target before the deadline in two weeks.”
Michael Babb, construction volunteer with the trust, said:
“Every volunteer needs something slightly different – a warm place to dry soaked clothes, somewhere to change before a long journey home, hot water for handwashing or a kettle for a much‑needed cup of tea.
“These are simple things, but they make a huge difference to the team, and providing them means our volunteers can give their best.”
People can donate via an online fundraising page.
This appeal lands at a landmark moment, with the lift bridge from Tamworth Road to Longbridge Road going in this week – one of the most visible signs yet of the canal’s return.
