The Sorted Project

Established in 2008, The Sorted Project supports people in recovery from complex health conditions on board our purpose built bespoke canal boat, Panacea, launched in 2019 on the Union Canal near Edinburgh. We provide a range of opportunities along the Union Canal. This includes training and volunteering, litter picking, community gardening and wildflower planting along our scenic canal network. This helps to reduce isolation and provides a therapeutic environment in which to meet others in recovery, increase confidence, develop new skills, and build healthy social networks. Our project was first established in 2008 and we have worked with many groups and individuals since then. We began hiring a canal boat in 2011 and this element of our work was so popular, we launched our purpose-built canal boat in 2019 with funding from the National Lottery Community Fund. Running a canal boat with and for our recovery community makes our service quite unique. The environment on the Union Canal and onboard Panacea is a peaceful and positive one. Research now tells us that being on water and in nature has tremendous benefits for our mental health. We have many opportunities available and volunteers can help in a variety of ways that will be great for the project and great for volunteers too. Learn to become a crew member and sail the boat. There are learning routes to follow which introduce a steady progression to increase knowledge, skills, experience and confidence. For more information, call Karen Bradford, our Project Manager on 07425 147635