What is the LCBA?

Established by a group of 10 liveaboard boaters on the 28th October 2025, we believe in the strength in community and shared ownership of the canal. We are policy influencers, communicators, and a social network that aims to bring everyone who uses the Lancaster Canal together, to understand one another.

As an established constituted community group, we’ve been able to create good working relationships with a number of stakeholders including the Canal & River Trust and Lancaster City Council. These links have enabled us to collaboratively represent the issues that the residents of the Lancaster Canal are experiencing.

We’ve been able to work with policy makers to bring betterments to the canal, such as fuel grants for those in fuel poverty and create better relationships with organisations such as Lancashire police, to help resolve antisocial issues along the canal.

When you join us as a free member you are pledging to support a group that will represent you as a liveaboard boater in a collaborative environment with other stakeholders. You pledging to help us make life better on the water for both you and those that share the space.

Who is this group for?

Our door is open to anyone who needs help & support, wants to be part of the community, or be part of one voice while living on their boat along the Lancaster Canal. To become a member and qualify for support you must live on your boat at least 50% of the time. Becoming a member is FREE, and more members help us unlock more funding and demonstrate to policy makers that through unity, we can make a difference.

If you don’t live on a boat at least 50% of the time but would still like to pledge to help those that do and make the canal a better place to live, you can register as a supporter. This shows other stakeholders that the wider community wants to support those living on the canal.

Why should I join the LCBA?

We’re less about the loudest voice and more about the representative voice. We take a collaborative approach and believe that where there are issues, we should be asking, how do we solve them with you? That starts with building relationships with other boaters and canal stakeholders.

So, you should join the LCBA because we’re better as one calm voice. We take a measured approach and will always try to get the community working together, rather than against each other.

While we primarily represent liveaboard boaters our work affects all those who use the canal. By joining as a member or a supporter, it increases our membership numbers, which in turn, helps us unlock more funding, show confidence in our cause and demonstrate to policy makers that through unity, we can make a difference.

And….there’s loads more going on in the background. It’s still early days, but we are liaising with local organsations, and stakeholders to help build a network that can provide services which could support boaters well being, and empowerment through signposting to services that can help boaters. You can be part of it by becoming a FREE member.