Hi,

We are Zoe and Eartha, a mum and daughter living on a 56ft narrowboat called Summer Bee, which we won in a competition and moved onto as our home.

Shortly after the win, our lives changed dramatically. Following a marriage breakdown, Eartha and I moved onto the boat on our own and began rebuilding our lives together on the water. At the time, I was completing my PhD — which I was proud to receive in July 2025 — while also working as a postdoctoral researcher.

Unfortunately, due to funding constraints, my postdoctoral role came to an end last summer, and like many academics, I’ve found it incredibly difficult to secure another university position. In September, I took a teaching role at a college, but my health declined rapidly. I became seriously unwell with pancreatitis (a condition I’ve struggled with before), was hospitalised, and have since been unable to fully carry out my duties. After much thought and heartbreak, I’ve had to step away from this role to focus on recovery and finding work that is manageable alongside narrowboat life.

At the same time, Eartha became very unwell in December 2024 and has been recovering from anorexia with the support of medical professionals. Supporting her recovery while managing serious illness, job loss, and life on a boat has been overwhelming at times — but she is incredibly brave, and we are taking things one step at a time.

Living on a narrowboat is beautiful, but it is also demanding. In winter especially, it becomes a full-time job just to stay warm, dry, and safe. We rely on limited solar power, and our aging batteries no longer hold charge. When the batteries fail, we are forced to run the engine constantly just to have power — costing hundreds of pounds in diesel we often simply don’t have.

What we urgently need help with is replacing our boat batteries, which would allow us to power the boat safely, reduce fuel costs, and get through the winter without running the engine day and night.

We have already been incredibly grateful for the kindness shown by friends, family, and charities, who have helped us buy a small generator, cover fuel and wood costs, and even take a short break together — something that meant the world to us during a very dark time.

I’ve never created a personal fundraising page before, and asking for help feels deeply uncomfortable. But right now, any support — no matter how small — would be genuinely life-changing for us. We are applying for grants and additional support, but those processes take time, and we are struggling in the meantime.

With rent prices so high, we don’t currently have any realistic alternative housing options. Summer Bee is our home, and keeping her powered means keeping us safe.

If you’re able to donate or share our story, we would be endlessly grateful.

Thank you so much for reading, for caring, and for helping us keep going.

With love,

Zoe & Eartha