It has been a brilliant experience. I am in awe of how the small national team can coordinate over 5,000 events. The support provided was exceptional — from one-to-one guidance and webinars to marketing logos, branding, and merchandise, all for free and which helped make our events stand out.
Why we take part
The festival offered us a unique opportunity to showcase the canal’s remarkable industrial heritage, much of which is rarely accessible. At the same time, we could share an important message: this is an iconic canal with a rich past, but its future depends on us as a community. Without continued support, use, and investment, we risk this vital waterway falling into further decline, or worse losing it. So when I became a member of the Erewash Canal Association I set out the case for participating with these key points:
- Availability of national assistance – including media attention and wider recognition.
- Building a community of supporters – strengthening local engagement and involvement.
- Crisis in Canal & River Trust funding – an urgent challenge that needs addressing.
- Alignment with the objectives of the Erewash Canal Association: To preserve and promote heritage; engage communities; build awareness and advocacy; create a legacy of support.
What we do for HODs
As the volunteer Events Coordinator, I was proud to deliver three entries for this year’s festival. Two were hosted across our heritage sites, while the third was held at a working dockyard, generously opened to the public by our member Steve Mills, the fourth-generation owner. At all our events, we offered a wide range of entertainment, including music, dancers, children’s activities, and a tombola.
Langley Mill Boatyard: Here we ran fully booked tours with exceptional presenters. We also set up exhibitions that told the stories of the canal’s history and industrial heritage, highlighting the work the Association had done in the 1960s to save sites from demolition and restore the Erewash Canal to navigable status, and showcased our ongoing projects and partnership with the Canal and River Trust.
The tours were exceptional, and I understand so much more about the canal and its history.
Sandiacre Lock Cottages: We were delighted to have two Shire horses and a spinner for this event, adding to the heritage atmosphere.
Mills Dockyard: We were blessed with a collection of vintage cars and boats, which attracted and delighted visitors of all ages. Plus Steve Mill’s private collection of family photos of the site, the oldest being from 1890.
The difference it makes
It’s still early days following the festival, so we don’t yet fully know how effective our events have been in meeting our objectives. What I can say with confidence though, is that the festival served us on so many levels — some of which I didn’t fully appreciate until now.
Team building
I just wanted to say what an amazing event took place today. It was so special and I feel privileged to have been able to help.
Prompting action
A good example is the Toll House at Langley Mill. When I first stepped inside, it was in a sad state: used mainly for storage, plaster falling off, cobwebs and dust everywhere, and a rotting front door. Today, thanks to our collective effort, it has been transformed into an exhibition space — repainted in splendid colours and telling our story. It now feels ready for us to build on this momentum and share our message even more widely.
The festival has also allowed us to build our marketing approach. We have developed membership postcards to promote the Association; a cycle, stroll or cruise the Erewash Canal guide; exhibition materials to be proud of and other marketing materials.
Developing skills
On a personal level, I have really enjoyed developing new skills during this process and networking. Learning to use products such as Canva, Eventbrite and ChatGPT, building my design experience, and exploring social media as a tool for promotion has been excellent self development. It has been enlightening to see how these skills can help bring our heritage to life and engage a wider audience.
Best bits
The biggest smiles came from seeing local people of all ages discovering our sites for the first time and realising that this heritage belongs to them too. At Mills Dockyard, the entertainment was fantastic – the car park was full as people didn’t want to leave, enjoying the ambience, refreshments, and fun. Everybody was so happy and so positive, a wonderful reminder of the impact these events can have on the community.
I have walked along this towpath often and always wanted to look around here.
Preparing for the festival also brought us closer as a team. By working side by side with a clear, shared purpose, we created not just events, but also a stronger, more confident Association. Far from being hard work, many volunteers thoroughly enjoyed their time; one even commented that she felt privileged to be involved. It was humbling and a powerful reminder of what we can achieve together.
Overcoming challenges
My biggest challenge was having too much to do. As a new member, the “new kid on the block”, I may have seemed a little scary to some, confidently leading on a project that many of our members had never heard of before. While I was fortunate to find some great supporters without whom we wouldn’t have achieved what we did, I really needed more help. This experience has taught me the importance of approaching members personally, understanding their strengths, and asking them to contribute in ways that play to those strengths.
Looking ahead, I am keen that we use the momentum from the festival to build wider awareness of the Association, attract more supporters, and make a real difference to the wonderful asset we have in the Erewash Canal.
Stacey’s Top Tips
- Engage your stakeholders and find your strong supporters – I couldn’t have achieved this without the support of two trustees.
- Communicate, praise, and thank people – recognising contributions keeps everyone motivated and valued.
- Plan and delegate – effective organisation and sharing responsibility makes events run smoothly.
- Always be on the lookout for content – capture stories, photos, and moments to share and promote.
- Have faith – build it and they will come. Trust in your vision and the community will respond.
Images are from Erewash Canal Association + HODs 2025 - Arnhel De Serra.
Inspired?! Find out more
- Erewash Canal Association
- Mills Dockyard
- More case studies - Meet other local organisers
- Get involved - Taking part in Heritage Open Days