The next memories to be featured in the Reflections: During a Time of Isolation Series have been submitted on behalf of Friends Of Fred.
The ‘Friends of Fred’ network developed out of the links established between many stakeholders in the water sector in the Leeds/Bradford area through the Hydro Citizenship project.
The Hydro-Citizenship Project was a 3 year project which investigated, and made creative contributions to the ways in which citizens and communities live with each other and their environment in relation to water in a range of UK neighbourhoods.
‘Friends of Fred’ was initially hosted by Canal Connections at our Leeds Dock office. This network generated new thinking among some key players in the local water environment, and the relationships that were fostered and deepened by FoF have been very important to the ongoing work of Canal Connections in the years since.
Essentially “Fred” is the River…and if it could talk, what would it say?
A recurring conversation was how Leeds had lost sight of its affinity to the river.
Here are some musings from a ‘Friend of Fred’, who is also a member of Canal Connections.
I have been amazed at the response to our Reflections appeal. It has introduced me into the technical world: even Zoom meetings. I have been able to communicate with some of our community partners and I have been humbled by their unseen response at a community level: shopping, delivering food, talking and responding to the individual’s needs.
This has had an impact in different ways:
Community transport mileage has increased 4- fold as it now delivers food parcels to individual households.
Telephone usage has dramatically increased for obvious reasons.
Income generation has dramatically decreased.
Isolation has increased, especially if you do not have access to technology.
This raises concerns for the needs in the middle and long term as we enter the recovery phase. I had raised my concerns as to “what can Canal Connections do?” and i have received resounding reassurance as to our role in the future:
“Be there”.
The waterways have been accessed by so many. Some did not know it was there but now they have found it, they do not want to lose it.
It heightened my awareness of the impact for those who are denied access to the waterway, either through fear, disability, economics, geography or just not knowing it was there.
The waterways can say:
“I have been found and I didn’t know I was lost.”
My thoughts have also looked at the impact of Covid-19. It has brought fear, isolation, loss, grief and lonely farewells. It has however also brought recognition, appreciation and gratitude for both people and the natural environment. We are told that time eases the memories of the former, but we must ensure that time does not erode the latter.
