Having returned to the fold regarding funding and work parties for BCNS I thought I had better update you on the current funding and money grabbing areas that the Society is looking into.

• Oldbury Town Committee Community Links.
  As you would expect this is a local funding project aimed at actions in and around the Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Smethwick, Tipton, Wednesbury and West Bromwich areas. We are applying for full budget of £500 to cover the cost of life jackets, tools and running costs for Phoenix when engaged on local school and youth group clean ups on the Titford Canal and surrounding areas. The application is in and will be considered by the next Town Committee meeting in June, 2002.
  
  
• The Waterways Trust Small Grants Scheme.
  We are asking for the maximum £5000 to fund display boards for the Society and also to make display boards for the Pump House and environs. Grant decisions are made " in principle" in May and we should know in June, 2002.
  
  
• Awards for All.
  This is a funding source from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and is specifically based around the Queen's Jubilee Year. Funding for up to £5000 for projects which are locally based are the requirements. We have as yet to apply ( see below)
  
  
• Heritage Lottery Fund ( Your Heritage)
  This is the standard HLF source that we used to get Phoenix and is still available to use. Although the old Phoenix file is closed we can apply for grants between £5000 and £50,000. As this is a major funding source we will have to look closely at any project before applying here. However, I have contacted the HLF and asked if we can obtain permission to make any changes to Phoenix, and this request is still in consideration at the time of writing.
  
  
• IWA
  The IWA will fund small grants and as yet we have not approached them although we could in the future.
  
  
• Entrust
  This is a landfill tax funding source and although we are registered we have not approached then for funding.
  
  
• SITA
  Part of the Entrust group, we approached this company to see if we fell into their area of funding, but they are more active in the sport field and nature reserve areas of conservation.
  
  
• Canals for Communities.
  Sandwell MBC has donated £1200, £600 of which is going towards the display stand and £600 is channelled towards the cleaning and spot paving of the Smethwick Gauging Island. This will be the subject of a work party later this year.
  
  
• Other Funding sources.
  If any of you work for, or are a shareholder in a large company, utility, corporation etc, you might find that they are willing to listen to your views on the direction to which they might put any charitable funding. Most large companies have a charity office and if you feel that it might help please can you let them know about the Society and also let me know whom to contact so that we can approach them. A good example of this direct contact by employees or shareholders . An application has been made to Tarmac(Anglo-American) via this route which results in a contact point for the society with this large company that makes donations to charitable causes. Your help will be appreciated in this matter.
  
  

Projects for Funding.

• Station Boat.
  I know that Martin O'Keffe and several others have thought it would be of benefit to the Society both historically and practically to have possession of a genuine BCN station boat. It is with this in mind that we have approached Tony Conder at the Waterways Museum with regard to the Society possibly taking over the station boat that at present resides in the disused lock at Stoke Bruerne.
  There are many things to consider before we make a move on this but Tony has given us the green light to have the boat surveyed to see if it is practical to apply for funding to restore it to its former glory. For those interested, it was built at Yarwoods in Northwich in November 1928 and was given number LM&SR no 53. It was gauged at Tipton on 14th November of the same year.
  The survey took place on 27th March and we are awaiting the results. Depending on costs we could apply for funding from both HLF funds (Awards for all and Your Heritage). More details to follow.
  
  
• Upgrading Phoenix.
  With health and safety issues ever around us I have always thought that at sometime or other we might have to upgrade Phoenix to enable to remove rubbish using some form of assisted mechanical means. There is a great raft of details associated with this and I am sure that it will take time to evolve, however I have included it here to see if anybody has any ideas that might be applicable to this subject. I have, as a matter of course, approached the HLF to get permission to alter the boat if needed.
  
  

Mike Butler