Our Social Prescribers, Digital, Ageing Well and Care Coordinator teams have taken outreach to the towpath — here’s what we’ve been doing and why it matters
It has been a pleasure to work with Tickety Boo Life CIC, the Community Interest Company behind Canal Pathways — a Macmillan Cancer Support funded project that takes health outreach directly to boaters and waterway communities across Calderdale and Kirklees.
Tickety Boo Life CIC’s Director, Suzanne Turner, is a former Project Manager and employee of Pennine GP Alliance, and is now extending her work tackling health inequalities across Calderdale and Kirklees through Canal Pathways.
Our Social Prescribers, Digital, Ageing Well and Care Coordinator teams have joined the Canal Pathways outreach sessions on the towpath, working alongside Tickety Boo Life CIC’s volunteers to reach people who might otherwise have little contact with primary care — weathering rain, sunshine and even hail to be there at every event.
What we have been checking on the towpath
Boaters and other canal pathway users can easily fall through the gaps in mainstream healthcare — no fixed address, infrequent contact with a surgery, or simply not knowing what is available locally. Meeting people on the water, in an environment where they already feel comfortable, gives us a real chance to close that gap. At each outreach session, our team has been checking:
• Whether people are registered with a GP
• Whether their address details are up to date
• Whether they are attending cancer screening
• Offering support to access and use the NHS App
• And introducing local support services out in public, in person, with no appointment needed
Why this matters
These five checks sound simple, but each one can make a real difference. An out-of-date address can mean missed screening invitations and appointment letters. Not being registered with a GP can mean delayed diagnosis and lost access to preventative care. Many boaters have never used the NHS App, so a few minutes of hands-on support can open up booking, prescriptions and health records they did not know were available. By asking these questions face to face, on the towpath, we are catching issues that might otherwise go unnoticed for months or years — and connecting people with support services they may not have known existed.
Working together on the water
Canal Pathways outreach sessions already bring together trained volunteers and local partners — including Unmasked, Cancer Champions, Staying Well and Age Concern. Our Social Prescribers, Digital, Ageing Well and Care Coordinator teams joining the sessions adds another layer of support, helping people get registered, get connected, and get the information they need, all in one place.
Where we’ve been, and where we’re heading next
So far, outreach sessions have taken place in Todmorden and Hebden Bridge. Spending around two weeks in each area has been key to building up trust with boaters — a single visit rarely opens the door, but a familiar, returning presence does. Suzanne is now arranging sessions in other areas such as Sowerby Bridge, Elland and Brighouse, continuing the journey along the canal and reaching new communities of boaters and waterway users.
Find out more
To find out more about Canal Pathways, visit WWW.Ticketyboo. life, or follow Tickety Boo Life CIC on Facebook and LinkedIn for upcoming outreach dates along the canal.