Far and Away CIC

11/12/2025

Generous donations from Daniel Sandford and others have funded our Maidenhead store until next August. Great news. My neighbours are happy that I don't have articulated lorries being loaded outside my house. The house is not full of boxes.

21/11/2025

If anyone can help to pay our annual rent for storage in Maidenhead, it would be greatly appreciated.

Iʼm raising money to pay for our collection store for humanitarian aid bound for Ukraine. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

08/08/2025

For my Paddle UK update to keep coaching qualifications valid, I booked a two-day first aid course with Andy Crowhurst of 4minutesFirstAid. Fellow participants were fell runners, Forest School teachers, and community gardeners. An interesting group that Andy facilitated really well.

Like many, I was not looking forward to another two days in the classroom that has to be repeated every three years. However, I was pleasantly surprised. Andy is a very knowledgeable practitioner, and the Taplow scout hut base was perfect. Not only that, it helps the local scout group.

4MinutesFirstAid have in the last year supported Far and Away CIC humanitarian aid storage facility in Maidenhead. I am very pleased that this support is continuing and if you book a first aid course with Andy and mention Far and Away CIC it will allow us continued support.

We operate within a small network of trusted individuals and charities. One of our high priorities is to support the well known paddler Dougal Glaisher volunteering in Ukraine with TacMed Ukraine.

We also support TRANSPORT A SISTER / Help Ukraine 2022, Ukraine Humanitarian Hub, Medics to Medics, Aid for Ukraine - Gloucestershire and the Ukrainian Canoe Federation.

David Martyn recently donated a Corsa that Daniel Sandford delivered to Lviv. Ian White donated a Mercedes ML 270, Miriam Hennah donated a Peugeot 2008.

The paddling community has been very supportive. However, even with donated cars the cost of fuel for the 2100km journey, and temporary insurance, and return can be high. Most volunteers accept this burden themselves.

https://www.facebook.com/4MinutesFirstAid

4 Minutes provides First Aid Training in Berkshire and neighbouring Counties. From two hour Emergency Aid courses to 3 day First Aid At work we cover the whole spectrum

11/06/2025

The International Canoe Federation is requesting kayaks and canoes for Ukraine, due to bombed out canoe clubs. See the link within the post.

I met the Ukrainian Canoe Federation president at his club. We are standing on a bridge above a canal that is connected to a power station. Warm water year round. I haven't included photos of the bombed out power station. The bombs hit the power station when the youngsters from the club were paddling nearby. As far as I am aware, this is not the clubhouse that was targeted.

I am donating two kayaks. A sprint K2 and a mini Hody K1.

I will take my van with a 5 bar and personally deliver them. I wrote to the ICF email in the post several weeks ago and have not heard back.

If any clubs would like to donate good quality boats, I will take them to Ukraine.

I will be interested to see whether Paddle UK respond to this request for help.

https://www.canoe-europe.org/news/icf-and-eca-issue-joint-call-for-donation-of-boats-to-ukraine-3207 #:~:text=ICF%20President%20Thomas%20Konietzko%20made,Championships%20in%20Uman%20on%20Saturday.

16/05/2025

16/05/2025

Please consider supporting fellow paddler Dougal.

10/03/2025

We asked for people's help to show Ukraine that they are not alone. 3 days later, this is the result!If you would like to participate, just send us a video

23/02/2025

Small jpgs from today's race. If anyone would like larger images, I will share in return for a donation to Medics to Medics for their fundraiser for individual first aid kits (IFAKS). Tomorrow is the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine. Last night saw Russia attack Ukraine with a record 267 drones. Please consider joining a demonstration tomorrow, 24 February if you can.

2025 Waterside race. The first in the series.

24/12/2024

We are actively seeking vehicles to donate to Ukraine for humanitarian aid.