It was a delight to co-host this session with Katie from the Canal & River Trust. for many families attending the session, it was their first encounter with this specific stretch of canal.

This session took place in a vibrant, developing urban landscape defined by industrial cranes and the Etihad Stadium. Despite towpath maintenance restricting our physical footprint, the session was a masterclass in adaptability. We proved that a compact urban “pocket” can host a profound nature-connection experience. This session didn’t just reach families; it acted as a live training ground for Canal River Trust staff and volunteers too.

A particularly joyful moment was when two young boys, seeing the canal for the first time, exclaimed, “It’s the sea! It’s the sea!” It’s moments like these that show the wonder a simple connection with nature can bring.

The session also successfully engaged older children too, one 13-year-old boy began the session entirely phone-focused. Once the “no phones” boundary was gently set and activities began, he became completely engaged and participated brilliantly.

We received heart-warming feedback from a grandmother who attended. She told us how impressed she was by the impact the session had on her 9 year old grandson who had initially not wanted to leave the house. The change in him was remarkable, and seeing him smile and interact was amazing. You can listen to her feedback here:

Grandmother’s Voice: “I rearranged my grandparenting duties specifically to come to this. It was wonderful… my 9-year-old grandson didn’t want to come, but just look at him now—he’s loving it.”

It was a privilege to work alongside Katie and incredible volunteers from the Canal & River Trust.

Session 1:

Session 2:

We also officially launched our new Manchester Family Wellbeing Map, which features fantastic routes along the Canalside in Manchester City Centre, sprinkled with amazing Happy Confident Kids tools and activities.

You can access a printable copy of the Manchester Family Well-Being Trail here.

Our vital partnership with the Canal & River Trust is truly a game-changer. We’re training & supporting their education staff and volunteers to deliver a bespoke program we’ve developed for families and schools. It was a real milestone to see Katie deliver part of this program along the canal side, teaching participants why being in nature feels so good and telling the Canal’s Story.

You can read the Canal’s Story here, beautifully written by Laura.

Nature flourishes everywhere—even under the cranes of Manchester. We didn’t just build rafts; we built a new connection to the city’s waterways and a more confident Canal & River Trust delivery team.