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EUCS funding appeal – CAN YOU HELP?

Dear Supporter

EUCS funding appeal – CAN YOU HELP?

For the first time since we relaunched the Canal Society, back in 2021/22, I’m writing with a direct appeal for some funding assistance.

We’ve collectively made great progress since that re-launch a few years ago:

  • The Boathouse site’s future has been secured, and we now have a formal ‘Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)’ with Scottish Canals covering ownership & usage of the wider site
  • We successfully resurrected boat-hires, as the community overwhelmingly wanted, and we’ve just started our 4th Season of hiring out our traditional rowing-boats … and they’re proving to be more popular than ever this year
  • Last November, we completed the “RIBA Stage 1” development process (RIBA – Royal Institute of British Architects), which resulted in a fully-costed Feasibility Study being prepared for the future of the Boathouse site
  • And this March we held a first, successful community consultation event, on our emerging plans for the wider site

We’re thus now well prepared and ready to commence “RIBA Stage 2” of the development process, which could subsequently see us on the verge of being able to submit a formal planning-application early next year.

BUT – there’s always a but! – we now need to raise around £7,500 in match-funding, in order to allow us to unlock a few grant applications that will help ensure a smooth commencement of that “RIBA Stage 2” process… and ideally, we need to raise that amount as soon as feasible.

Can you help – any donation, no matter how small, would make a crucial difference in ensuring ongoing success for the Edinburgh Union Canal Society …

… there is a DONATE section on our website – here:

… or you can just go straight to our JUSTGIVING page – here:

… or you can make a Bank Transfer directly to our charity account – relevant details:

  • ACCOUNT NAME: Edinburgh Union Canal Society (SCIO)
  • ACCOUNT No.: 22952565
  • SORT CODE: 80-22-60

If you’re able, I do hope you might make a donation; but please don’t hesitate to get back to me if you would like any further information or clarification?

With many thanks for your ongoing interest in the Canal Society. 

Andrew

——————-

Andrew Burns

Chair – Edinburgh Union Canal Society

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Raffle Winners

Thanks to all those that came by the stalls today. Another very successful day with lovely chats in glorious sunshine and some very gusty winds.

The winning tickets for the raffle were:

TicketPrize
Yellow 151Family Paddle Session
Yellow 228Rowing Boat Hire
Yellow 148Food at Heavenly Scran @ Cloisters
Yellow 186Wine
Yellow 180Wine
Yellow 150Beer
Yellow 218Bag of wine and chocolates
Yellow 249Bag of wine and chocolates
Yellow 221Bag of wine and chocolates
Yellow 225Travel Pack
Yellow 157Toiletries
Yellow 137Whisky
Yellow 130Box of gins
Yellow 198Potted plant

We’ll be in touch with the winners over the next few days. Any questions, please contact info@eucs.org.uk.

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Rowing Boat Launch Day!

To mark the start of the 2026 Rowing Boat Season, the Edinburgh Union Canal Society (EUCS) will be hosting a ‘launch event’ on Sunday 12th April when our three traditional rowing-boats will be available for hire.

On the launch day, EUCS will also have “Information Tents/Stalls/Tea/Coffee/Cake & a Raffle (with great prizes!)“; all on the towpath, opposite the Ashley Terrace Boathouse; and additionally, we’ll also be hiring out our three rowing-boats!

Some further details, including some requests for help, follow below:

We’ll be open to the public between 12 noon and 5 pm, so please do come along on the day, if you can – you’ll be able to find out more about our ongoing work and also sample some marvellous homemade cakes! Additionally, we’ll be holding a raffle with great prizes on offer, all helping to raise further funds for the Society!

Able to volunteer to help make day a success? There are various ways to help:

A home-baker? Donate a cake. We’ll be cutting and bagging cakes at 32 Cowan Road from 6.30 pm on Saturday 11th.

If you can donate an hour or two of your time on the Sunday, that would be great. We are onsite from 10.30 am setting up. Or help out running the stalls. Then from 4.30 pm we will start packing up. A extra pair of hands for any of these helps enormously.

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Neighbourhood Consultation and Social Evening 2026

Tuesday 10th March, 7.00 pm; at the Merchiston Tennis & Bowling Club

We are delighted to invite our local residents and members to a social evening to share the evolving vision for the EUCS boathouse project. Following the successful completion of our initial feasibility study and positive discussions with Scottish Canals and Historic Environment Scotland, we are eager to present our concept designs to the community. This is a chance to drop in, enjoy some refreshments, and chat with the committee about how this project will enhance our stretch of the canal. Whether you’re interested in the rowing boat plans or the broader architectural vision, your feedback is vital as we move toward the next stage of development.

The bar will be open serving drinks 🍻 🍷. Show your interest on our facebook event page and share to all your quizzing competitors.


Can’t make it? We’ll be posting the full FAQ and digital feedback form right here after the event.

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EVENT: the “Flotilla of Lights” cake and information stall – afternoon/evening of Saturday 8th November 2025

We’ll be ‘live’ from 4pm; with the actual ‘Flotilla of Boats’ coming past Harrison Park around 6.30pm

Please do come along and join us for the annual, ever popular, Ronnie Rusack Flotilla of Lights event …

… we’ll be set up on the towpath, opposite the Ashley Terrace Boathouse, on Saturday 8th November 2025; and we’ll have a ‘Cake & Information Stall’, which will be ‘live’ from 4pm through to around 8pm that afternoon/evening. The Boathouse will also be ‘lit-up’ throughout the evening!

Hope to see you 🙂