Our Strategy

Updated: July 2026

This is our overall strategy and explains our plan to achieve our long term goal of restoring and rebuilding the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals and reconnecting them to the national network.

It guides our decisions, shapes our priorities and helps us focus our resources where they will have the greatest impact, explaining how we plan to achieve our long‑term goal of rebuilding both canals and reconnecting them to the national network.

What we want to achieve

Restore the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals to establish a navigable gateway to the Birmingham Canal Navigations, meanwhile creating a green and blue corridor for the benefit of our community.

Why we want to do this

Building on what’s already been achieved, to complete full restoration of both canals and provide the following benefits:
Green and blue space for walkers, runners, cyclists etc.
Sustainable habitats for diversifying wildlife, increasing biodiversity & carbon capture.
A navigable route for boaters.
Economic benefits such as inward investment, tourism and new business for the wider community.
Training and development opportunities for volunteers of all ages.
Health and wellbeing for volunteers and the public.

How we will do this

Our high-level aim to restore, rebuild and reconnect the canals to the national waterways network is a long term and complex project requiring the input of hundreds of people. This is enabled by six supporting strategies, which provide more detail about their specific strand of activity:

Construction/completion

Our approach to the physical construction and the order in which we currently expect to undertake projects.

Financial

How we’ll raise the necessary funds to pay for construction, how we’ll invest and safeguard them.

Maintenance

How current and future physical infrastructure and adjacent green areas will be maintained.

Volunteers

How we‘ll recruit, retain and develop our volunteers and work with contractors,
regulators and other relevant entities.

Communications and marketing

How we’ll engage with stakeholders to raise awareness, keep them informed and ensure we have a positive profile.

Post completion

What will happen to the canal once completed to ensure that it will be in good order for future generations.

Turning strategy into action

Projects and programmes, that will deliver the restoration.

Operational plan (OP)

Each OP sets out the priorities to progress towards our overall goal and focuses on what can be realistically achieved within two years.

Operational Plan and Action plan (OPAP)

Each OP is underpinned by an Operational Plan Action Plan (OPAP) listing actions, each assigned to named individuals who are accountable for delivery.

Onsite programmes and projects

These are the detailed site-specific plans, which deliver the construction and restoration of the canals, working within the above strategies.

What we stand for

These are the values that guide our work

Integrity

We are honest in our dealings with each other, and with external people and organisations

Teamwork and respect

We value teamwork and respect the abilities and contributions by our volunteers and contractors.

Inclusiveness

We welcome people whatever their age, physical ability, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, religion, experience or skills.

Sustainability

We’ll ensure that the restored canals have positive and permanent impact to biodiversity and the environment, whilst working to complete their restoration.

Community value

We seek to ensure that, working in partnership with others, the canal restoration will always provide positive benefit to our community.

Demonstrating accountability and good governance

How we oversee our work and report to our stakeholders in safeguarding the canal and other assets

Accountability

Returns to grant awarding bodies.
Monthly report to Board of Trustees meetings and volunteer forums.
Formal reporting at our public AGM.
Publication of a physical and digital annual report and accounts.
Articles in print publications and posts on social media and our website.

Governance

Project management.
Risk management.
Financial management.
People management.
Communications plan and events reporting.

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