Camden Charity CCNA Tarporley: Community Canal Boat Highlights September–December 2025

Autumn is always a meaningful season for CCNA Tarporley. As a Camden Charity, we use our Community Canal Boat to bring people together, celebrate waterway heritage, and create calmer moments on the canal when the year speeds up. This final blog in our 2025 series looks back at September to December and captures a few of the moments that made us feel proud, thankful and connected.

September – celebrating waterway heritage at Angel Fest

September is a highlight in our calendar because it brings a real celebration of waterway heritage to Angel. Tarporley took part near City Road Basin, where the canal becomes a meeting point for locals, visitors and long-time supporters. The atmosphere at Angel Fest always feels warm and welcoming, with plenty happening on the towpath and in the surrounding area. From Morris dancing to street food and canal-side conversations, it is a brilliant reminder that London’s canals are living spaces, not just scenery. It also shows how a Community Canal Boat can help people feel closer to the place they live.

October – World Mental Health Day and our Community Canal Boat

In October, we marked World Mental Health Day on 10 October by highlighting a core part of our mission. We work to give the local community a chance to step away from everyday pressures and enjoy the serenity of time on the water. The canal has a way of slowing everything down, which makes space for reflection and connection. As a Camden Charity, we see again and again how important calm environments can be, especially when life feels relentless. Moments like these show why our Community Canal Boat matters beyond trips and events.

November – our Christmas cruises begin

November brought a festive shift in energy as we kicked off our Christmas cruises. These trips are a favourite for many people and they create a real sense of excitement as the year draws to a close. We welcomed familiar faces and new passengers who wanted to experience the canals in winter, when the city feels different and a little more magical. We also encouraged everyone to keep an eye out for cruises planned for early next year, because the demand for these moments of escape continues. For some visitors, the experience can feel like free boat trips in London, but with a deeper community purpose behind every journey.

December – thanking our volunteers and closing the year

December gave us the chance to pause and celebrate the people who make everything possible. All of the volunteers at CCNA came together for a Christmas party, which felt like a fitting way to close out the year. Volunteers bring energy, care and commitment to every trip, and their support keeps our Community Canal Boat moving and our Camden Charity growing. We end 2025 feeling happy, proud of what we achieved, and grateful to everyone who travelled with us, donated, volunteered, or shared our story. However you celebrate, we want to wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year, and we cannot wait to welcome you back on board soon.