Canal & River Trust (CRT) has announced that it is extending the deadline for its Boater Census until 31st October 2022. The NBTA encourages liveaboard boaters to complete it. Worried it’s not anonymous?
The CRT census is both voluntary and anonymous and is not linked to your boat licence or customer number. You can use this link which is not tied to any customer’s identity or email address https://canalrivertrust.welcomesyourfeedback.net/census22
The CRT census is a chance to set out to CRT any issues you have faced due to being a liveaboard boater and – importantly – to highlight where CRT’s enforcement policy, especially the 20 mile range requirement, interferes with basic parts of life such as putting children through school, getting and keeping a job or caring for an elderly or disabled relative. If enough people use the census to tell CRT of their experiences then this will create a powerful platform to lobby CRT for change.
The final 8 or so questions which come up for liveaboards ask about difficulties in relation to accessing education, healthcare and benefits as well as problems around employment and care giving.
This really could be an opportunity to drive important messages to the Directors and Trustees at CRT but only if people fill in the census and set out the problems we face. Otherwise it may look to the CRT that there aren’t any problems.
CRT say that there has been a good response to the census so far, but there are still lots of people who haven’t started or have started but not completed theirs, so it has decided to keep it open until the end of October. You don’t have to use the unique link, if you were sent one – you can complete it here https://canalrivertrust.welcomesyourfeedback.net/census22
Anonymity
If you are worried that the CRT census might not be anonymous, use the above link which was sent by text to those customers who do not have an email address registered with CRT. If you’re really concerned, you could also complete it on a computer that belongs to a friend who doesn’t live on a boat, rather than using your own phone or laptop or a shared computer in a library.
CRT has explained that customers who were sent the census link by email were given a unique link to the SNAP Surveys system. These links are issued by a host server which recognises if the survey has been completed via your email address. However, the responses contained in the completed survey are compiled within the secure server along with any others and are anonymised – they cannot be identified or attributed to any individual. CRT say that anyone who has started but not yet finished and submitted their census can use the same unique link sent to them by email.
If you know any boaters who don’t have internet access, please tell them that they can complete the CRT census anonymously by phone – they should phone CRT on 0303 040 4040. You can also contact CRT to do the census if you use its waterways frequently but your boat is kept elsewhere.
The UK 2021 Census missed some information
Although the UK 2021 Census did include those who live on a boat, boat dwellers are put in the same category as those who live in other mobile homes, so there will be no information from the UK 2021 Census that is just relevant to boat dwellers, not even a total for the number of people who live on boats. The CRT census will count the number of people living on boats on CRT waterways, and this number can be used to estimate the overall number of people living on boats in the UK.
Here are the census questions
Boater “census” survey – we know about your boat, but we want to understand more about you.
Through the boat licensing and boat safety scheme processes, we know quite a lot about the 37,000+ boats that are on our network, for example the size, type and even the age of boats.
However, we don’t know very much about the people using the boats on our waterways and what they are using them for. This survey has been designed to help us understand more about you and the challenges you face, for example, raising a family on the waters, boating with disabilities or how you access services such as health services. Your responses will help inform our work and help us understand our different customers needs. It will also help others, like local authorities and health service providers, to understand and ensure your needs are met.
You will have the option to save your responses and return to the survey at a later time which means you do not have to complete it in one sitting.
The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete and is completely anonymous. No personal data that can identify you is recorded unless you volunteer it in your written responses. Your data will not be used by anyone other than the Canal and River Trust and in accordance with its privacy policy (opens in new window). This survey is also conducted in accordance with the Market Research Society Code of Conduct.
The survey has been put together in collaboration with (liveaboard) boaters on the CRT Council and Navigation Advisory Group. We want to understand about everyone on your boat – not just you, so please consider everyone on your boat when answering. You might prefer to complete it together with others who are on your boat.
About your boat
The type of boat and how it is used is relevant to the services we provide and how we maintain the waterway network. At present we have no details about what boats are used for so these questions are designed to help us understand this.
Please remember the answers you give are anonymous and cannot be linked to you or your boat
What type of boat do you have?
A narrow boat
A widebeam boat
A cabin cruiser
Other (please specify)
What material is the boat primarily made of?
Steel
Wood
Fibre glass
Other
How many people can sleep on your boat?
Please indicate the number of people who can sleep in any fixed beds.
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 or more
Please indicate the number of people who can sleep in beds that can be converted, for example sofa/pull-out beds
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 or more
Does your boat currently have any of the following? Please select all that apply
Solid fuel stove
Paraffin heater
Diesel stove
Solar panels
Solid fuel cooking (range or aga for example)
Cassette toilet
Gas for cooking
Pump-out toilet
Gas boiler for heating
Incinerator toilet
Electric heating
Separator toilet (also known as compost toilet)
Diesel heating
None of these
Diesel/petrol generator
Other
Are you planning to install any of the following?
Diesel stove
Paraffin heater
Solid fuel cooking (range or aga for example)
Pump-out toilet
Gas boiler for heating
Incinerator toilet
Electric heating
Separator toilet (also known as compost toilet)
Diesel heating
None of these
Diesel/petrol generator
Other
Have you experienced any mechanical issues with your boat in the past 12 months?
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
Mechanical Problems: What happened, and is there anything that might help should something like this happen again in the future?
(Please give a description of what happened, any problems you faced while getting it fixed, and if there is anything which would have made the situation better).
Which of the following options best describes how you use your boat most of the time?
I use it to cruise the waterways in my leisure time
As a holiday home
As a temporary home
As a temporary home where I live when I’m at work
As a second home where I live for extended periods / as an alternative to my main residence
As my only home
Other
How long have you been living on your current boat for?
Less than a year
More than 1 year but less than 3 years
More than 3 years but less than 5 years
More than 5 years but less than 10 years
More than 10 years
If you have lived on other boats before this one, how long for?
This is the first boat I’ve lived on
Previous boat/s less than a year
Previous boat/s more than 1 year but less than 3 years
Previous boat/s more than 3 years but less than 5 years
Previous boat/s more than 5 years but less than 10 years
Previous boat/s more than 10 years
What are your main motivations for living on a boat? (select all that apply)
I am attracted to the waterway environment (e.g. wildlife, boats, tranquillity etc)
The waterway community
I can go cruising whenever I feel like it
So that I can live and work from my boat
It offers me an alternative to mainstream living
Personal/family reasons
It offers me a more sustainable low-impact living
It is more affordable for me
Other
If “Other” please specify
Please select which best describes you?
A boater with a permanent mooring who lives aboard most of the year – my boat is my primary residence
A leisure boater with a permanent mooring
A continuous cruiser who lives aboard most of the year – my boat is my primary residence
A continuous cruiser who does not live aboard most of the year – my boat is not my primary residence
Other
Please select which of the following best describes how you feel
I have no plans to ever take a permanent mooring, I always want to continuously cruise
I have no plans to take a permanent mooring, but I may/do take a mooring during winter months
I don’t plan to take a permanent mooring any time soon, but am interested in a permanent mooring at some time in the future
I am actively looking for a permanent mooring now
I have no plans to stop continuously cruising at the moment but plan to move off my boat into land based accommodation at some point in the future
I am actively looking to move off my boat into land based accommodation now
Where do you typically do most of your boating? Over the past 12 months please indicate which regions you have boated in.
Select all that apply
East Midlands
London & South East
North West
Wales & South West
West Midlands
Yorkshire & North East
None of the above/have been unable to boat/other
Please indicate which waterways in XXX area you used. Select the ONE used most often.
When you licence your boat, we collect minimal information (name, contact details) about the licence holder, but we don’t know anything about who else is on the boat. Although the UK census does include those who live on a boat, boat dwellers are put in the same category as those who live in other mobile homes, so we can’t extract any information from the census that is just relevant to boat dwellers.
Understanding who and how many people live on boats on our waterways will help us better understand what and where facilities/services are needed.
Please note that your answers remain anonymous and cannot be traced back to an individual or a boat, so please answer as honestly and fully as you can.
How many adults live on your boat as their primary residence?
For adults (over 16 years of age) indicate how many there are in the age bands
(Type in a number for each age group – it will totalise at the bottom of the page)
16-24
25-34
35-44
45-54
55-64
65-74
1
75+
There are a total of 1 adults on your boat? If this is correct, please click “Next” to continue. Otherwise amend the values in the above table.
Do you have any children living aboard (anyone under the age of 16)
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
How many children live on your boat as their primary residence?
For children (under 16 years of age) indicate how many there are in the age bands
(Type in a number for each age group – it will totalise at the bottom of the page or skip if not relevant)
Aged 0-2
Aged 3-5
Aged 6-11
Aged 12-15
There are a total of 1 adults and 0 children on your boat? If this is correct, please click “Next” to continue. Otherwise amend the values in the above table or go back to change the values for adults if necessary.
Do you have any animals living on board your boat?
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
Select which animal or animals you have.
Dog(s)
Cat(s)
Other
Issues and challenges you face
The following questions are intended to give you an opportunity to tell us about any specific issues or challenges that you experience as a liveaboard boater.
The information collected will help us to identify and better understand problems faced by boaters. Knowing this information will be an important step in helping us to work with others to address them, so please do answer as fully and honestly as possible.
Please note that your answers remain anonymous and cannot be traced back to an individual or a boat, so please answer as honestly and fully as you can.
Has living on a boat created any issues or challenges for you or someone on your boat related to employment/work?
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
N/A
Employment/work issues or challenges: Can you tell us more, and if you have had more than one challenge, please give all the details in the box below, together with anything that would have helped?
Has living on a boat created any issues or challenges for you or someone on your boat related to accessing health services?
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
N/A
Accessing health services: Can you tell us more and if you have had more than one challenge, please give all the details in the box below, together with anything that would have helped?
Has living on a boat created any issues or challenges for you or someone on your boat related to caring responsibilities?
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
N/A
Caring responsibilities: Can you tell us more and if you have had more than one challenge, please give all the details in the box below, together with anything that would have helped?
Has living on a boat created any issues or challenges for you or someone on your boat related to having a baby?
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
N/A
Having a baby: Can you tell us more and if you have had more than one challenge, please give all the details in the box below, together with anything that would have helped?
Has living on a boat created any issues or challenges for you or someone on your boat related to accessing education?
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
N/A
Education: Can you tell us more and if you have had more than one challenge, please give all the details in the box below, together with anything that would have helped?
Has living on a boat created any issues or challenges for you or someone on your boat related to accessing financial services (e.g. banking/loans)?
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
N/A
Financial services: Can you tell us more and if you have had more than one challenge, please give all the details in the box below, together with anything that would have helped?
Has living on a boat created any issues or challenges for you or someone on your boat related to accessing financial help (e.g. accessing benefits)?
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
N/A
Financial help: Can you tell us more and if you have had more than one challenge, please give all the details in the box below, together with anything that would have helped?
Have you faced any issues or challenges living aboard your boat for you or someone on your boat related to a disability or long-term health condition?
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
N/A
Disability/long-term health: Can you tell us more and if you have had more than one challenge, please give all the details in the box below, together with anything that would have helped?
Have you faced any other challenges living aboard your boat?
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
N/A
Other challenges: Can you tell us more and if you have had more than one challenge, please give all the details in the box below, together with anything that would have helped?
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“Standard Questions”
This section is all about basic things like gender, health and work. These are the kinds of things that are used to ensure that we are representing a true picture in this study and also to ensure that the right kinds of support and services are available.
The information cannot be linked to your boat….but if you prefer, just say “prefer not to say”.
How many people of each gender are on your boat, including yourself? Type in the total number of people for each gender category.
Male
Female
Transgender
Other
Prefer not to say
Please indicate how many people identifying with the following ethnic group or background are on your boat. Type in the total number of people for each ethnicity category.
White: English
White: Welsh
White: Scottish
White: Northern Irish
White: Irish
White:British
White: Gypsy or Irish Traveller
White: Any other White background
Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups: White and Black Caribbean
Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups: White and Black African
Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups: White and Asian
Mixed/Multiple ethnic groups: Any other Mixed/Multiple ethnic background
Asian/Asian British: Asian/Asian British
Asian/Asian British: Indian
Asian/Asian British: Pakistani
Asian/Asian British: Bangladeshi
Asian/Asian British: Chinese
Asian/Asian British: Any other Asian background
Black/ African/Caribbean/Black British: Black/ African/Caribbean/Black British
Black/ African/Caribbean/Black British: African
Black/ African/Caribbean/Black British: Caribbean
Black/ African/Caribbean/Black British: Any other Black/African/Caribbean
Arab
Any other ethnic group
Prefer not to say
If anyone on your boat considers themself to be any of the following, please indicate how many.
Gypsy or traveller
New traveller or new age traveller
Bargee
Fairground or circus family, known as travelling showmen
None of the above
Prefer not to say
Are day-to-day activities for you,or anyone else on your boat, limited because of a health problem or disability which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months?
Yes, limited a lot
Yes, limited a little
No
Prefer not to say
N/A
Please indicate how many people on your boat describe their current status as follows:
Employed full-time (30 hours or more per week)
Employed part-time
Self employed
Unemployed
Full-time student
Full-time homemaker or carer
Full-time homemaker with dependent children
Full-time home maker with no dependent children
I do voluntary work
Work experience
Retired
Prefer not to say
Other
Are you or anyone else on your boat currently receiving Statutory Sick Pay?
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
Are you currently receiving any of the following?
Please tick all that apply or skip if not applicable
Employment and Support Allowance
Job Seekers Allowance
Income Support or Incapacity Benefit
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Universal Credit
Pension / Pension credit
Carers Allowance
Other similar benefits
Prefer not to say
How easy did you find this survey to complete?
Rate anywhere on this scale
Very Difficult
Very Easy
Is there anything we could change to improve this survey?
ENDS