Making a difference to communitiesThe Waterways Trust Scotland help give opportunities to young people from deprived areas through projects like film making. Pictured are a group of youngsters from Twechar who made a film about the canal and were treated to a premiere at the Glasgow Film Theatre.
Encouraging engagement with the canalProjects like the creation of the Action Outdoors Centre at Polmont on the Union Canal has helped give a focus for young people in the area and allowed them to gain access to the water through activities like canoeing.
Harnessing volunteersAll the canal societies who operate boat trips along the canal are volunteers and various groups such as The Royal Bank of Scotland have used the canals and The Falkirk Wheel for team building exercises. Work like litter picking, painting, creating picnic benches and tree planting have all taken place thanks to volunteers.
Supporting social enterpriseThe purple boat in the picture is Re-Union, one example of a social enterprise company who exist becasue of Scotland's canals. Re-Union operate boat trips and offer volunteering opportunities for anyone who would like to get involved on the boat. Through their activities, they aim to regenerate the communities along the Union Canal.
Delivering practical learningThe Waterways Trust also operate a scheme 'Safe Routes to School' which encourages youngsters to use the canal towpath as a safe and easy way to get to class everyday but also educates them along the way with a guide telling stories about the area of the canal they are using.
Creating an active nationThe canal and adjacent towpath are a free outdoor gym for people to get fit through paddle sports, walking, cycling and jogging. New businesses, such as Outdoor Trax at Auchinstarry, have been created to offer easy access to the equipment and the canal itself.
Giving reasons to visitLocal events such as Body Currents on the Caledonian Canal (pictured) give people an extra reason to come out and sample what the waterway and surrounding areas have to offer.
Working all across ScotlandA whole range of events run every year throughout all of Scotland's canals aimed at challenging people's perceptions and encouraging more active engagement with their local waterway. As you can see from the image taken on the Crinan Canal, there are lots of different ways to get out on the water!