LATEST FUNDING UPDATE:

May 2022: £5,000 and £500 from two generous individual donors.

April 2022: £2,500 from the Sussex Community Foundation. £2,000 from the GetWaterFit campaign with Portsmouth Water.

February 2022: £5,000 Gerald Micklem Charitable Trust. A further £15,000 allocated from Trust income. £250 Taylor Wimpey. £189 The Rainbow Inn. £600 Waitrose 'Show a little love'. We have received a pledge of £15,000 if we hit our target (We're at £144,949) - can you help us get there?

June 2021: £2,000 Chapman Charitable Trust. £250 Wiley and Sons. £5,000 (individual donor). More grant applications underway.

March 2021: £4,000 Nineveh Trust. £3,500 D'Oyly Carte Trust.

February 2021: £40,000 from the Swire Charitable Trust. £10,000 from Chichester District Council Community Grant scheme.

December 2020: £500 Basil Shippam Trust. £1,000 Seaward Properties.

November 2020: £10,000 from crowd-funding including £2,000 from West Sussex County Council Community Initiative Funding. £10,000 allocated from Chichester City Council Community Infrastructure Levy. £25,000 from trading income from the canal. ~£9,000 s106 money as a one off without prejudice sum (to carry out repairs as part of a Rights of Way surfacing project)

Volunteer operated and self funded, Chichester Canal is a well-supported and much valued asset to the local community and provides highly regarded recreational and tourism opportunities to the local and wider area. It offers a serene and recognised natural environment, critical not only for the wildlife it supports but also so important for people in our society today.

Walkers, runners, dogs (and their owners) and cyclists, along with kayakers and paddleboarders, have rediscovered the attraction of Chichester Canal during the recent restrictions. Many people took to the towpath for daily exercise to maintain their health and wellbeing. This tranquil waterside walk provided much needed peace and calmness during a time of uncertainty and continues during the restrictions.

Paddleboarders and kayakers have returned to the water getting exercise, reducing stress and avoiding crowds whilst enjoying the outside environment either alone or with the family. Catherine Cannon, Trustee, said, 'We are so fortunate to have this towpath and waterway right on our doorstep.'

Wildlife has returned in abundance as well as the weeds, both in and out of the water. Along with encroaching vegetation, the canal banks are slowly being eroded and require specialist repair to ensure they support the towpath and are safe for both footpath and waterway users.

Some of the work is and can be undertaken by our enthusiastic band of volunteers however some necessitates the involvement of professional companies.

The cost to return the banks to good order is estimated to be just under £200,000. We need your help to raise these funds to keep your canal safe, secure and enjoyable for you, your family and friends now and in the future.