The Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canals Trust (MBACT) sees training and education as a key part of its mission. The canal and its restoration provides a key learning platform for multiple topics such as engineering, geography, geology, history, archeology, the environment, nature, tourism, wellbeing, leisure and fitness.
The restoration work also provides a solid base for learning vocational skills. MBACT also operates 2 community boats that provides an opportunity for boat related skills and qualifications to be acquired.
Education Through Restoration Project (ETR) 2010 – 2012
In 2010 – 2012 MBACT provided training and education opportunities as part of the Education Through Restoration (ETR) project. This involved the restoration of two pairs of locks on the Cefn Flight at Fourteen Locks. As a direct result of the successful partnership between Newport City Council and The Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canals Trust (MBACT) over a million pounds of funding was secured from The Heritage Lottery Fund and other funding bodies for the restoration of the locks. Education was a key part of this restoration project.
Ongoing Skills Training and Education
As part of the ongoing restoration work our education focus is on:
Skills training
- enabling craft heritage skills training on canal restoration schemes
- running boat crew training courses
Education
- providing schools curriculum based courses on land or afloat
- providing formal education opportunities at the Fourteen Locks Canal Centre
- increasing the general public’s knowledge and awareness of the canals, their history, and the benefits that they bring to the area