So, what is the purpose of this site?

If we'd paid a fortune for a PR Consultant, they'd probably tell us to sell the site in the following way:

"A social networking, shop front and community resource with an educational and mutual support focus. "

And although that would pretty much sum up the overall motivation for wanting to build this site, it misses out on the collaboration and member participation that will eventually lead to the true value of the site - the content.

Although sponsored and paid for by Sheffield Narrowboats Limited, the site hopefully doesn't have any overt commercial bias, other than to help support and promote commercial activity in and around the Sheffield Canal.

We hope, with the help and contributions of members, to develop this site as a canal community, building links and partnerships, bringing together people and organisations with shared interests and helping to raise the focus of the Sheffield Canal.

The overall aim is to start building toward a series of celebrations, the first of which will be the 200th Anniversary of the forming of the Sheffield Canal Company, by Act of Parliament in 1815.  This leaves (at the time of writing) around 7 years to plan something :-)

The next, main celebration will be the 200th Anniversary of the Canal opening.  We have about 11 years to pull this together, and who knows, maybe with the right co-ordination and promotion, Sheffield City Council may feel it fitting to call a General Holiday.

This site is therefore an open and free resource for anyone with an interest in our canal, the long term sustainability, regeneration and promotion of a quite unique part of our industrial and social heritage.

The technology behind this site is intended to enable anyone, no matter how technically adept (or not so) to contribute 'content' easily and quickly.  You don't need to be a techie, you just need to be able to use a web browser.  If you're reading this, you can create and manage content on the site, it really is that easy.  Don't be afraid of breaking anything, we all make mistakes, it doesn't matter.  What matters is the collective contribution, building co-operative alliances, mutual communities, and promoting the Sheffield Canal.

Joining is quick, easy, secure and FREE!