🌟 Thank You — We’ve smashed Our Big Give Target!

Our education volunteer in navy polo shirt holding his hands together and squeezing his eyes standing next to a child in a white baseball cap and turquoise tshirt doing the same.

We are absolutely thrilled — and deeply moved — to share the incredible news that in just over 24 hours we have exceeded our Big Give Christmas Challenge fundraising target. Thanks to your generosity, encouragement, and belief in our work, we’ve raised an astonishing £1,460, reaching 104% of our £1,400 goal.

This achievement is more than a number. It represents kindness, community, and a shared belief that everyone deserves access to the Thames — whether for joy, education, calm, companionship, or simply the chance to breathe in the river’s quiet magic.

Three older women with grey and white hair sitting down at the side of the boat looking forwards. The women in the foreground is wearing a white t-shirt and holding a cup of tea, the woman in the middele is wearing a dark green tshirt and a gold necklace, and the woman at the back is wearing sunglasses.

A powerful start — made possible by you

The speed and strength of your support has been remarkable. From early-bird donors to those who shared our posts before their morning tea, every action helped fuel this momentum. Our match-funding pot has now been completely unlocked — meaning every donation so far has been doubled, instantly transforming your generosity into even greater impact.

Your support in these first 24 hours means we can confidently plan more therapeutic cruises for older adults, people living with disabilities, and community groups who rarely, if ever, get the chance to experience the river. It also strengthens our education programmes for children, helps us maintain our two fully accessible boats, and keeps our volunteer-powered charity resilient for 2026 and beyond.

But the journey isn’t over — and you can still help

Although our match-funding target has now been smashed, the campaign itself continues until Tuesday 9th at midday. Any further donations — of any size — will continue to support our core mission of making the Thames accessible to all.

Every additional pound helps us:

Cover fuel and skipper time for therapeutic cruises

Deliver river-based learning to children who have limited access to nature

Keep our boats safe, reliable, and fully wheelchair accessible

Train volunteers who are the beating heart of our organisation

A group of schoolchildren in yellow hi-vis vests stand in a row facing Teddington Lock, with our Education manager standing at the end also in hi-vis on the right, and their teacher on the left.

From all of us — thank you

We are humbled and energised by your belief in this work. Whether you donated, shared our campaign, told a friend, or simply cheered us on — you are part of this success. This is what community looks like: people coming together to create moments of joy, calm, and connection on the river.

Here’s a favourite moment from the past season: a group of passengers gathered at the stern of Thames Venturer, waving at passing boats and laughing as sunlight danced on the water. That sense of peace and shared delight is exactly what your donations make possible.

So once again — thank you. You’ve helped us start the campaign with strength and hope, and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the week brings.

If you missed the match window but would still like to support the campaign, you are warmly welcome to donate up until Tuesday 9th at midday and help us keep the Thames accessible to all.

With gratitude,

River Thames Boat Project

Donate here