Action for Prisoners' Families: Civil servant attempts solar powered boat trip up the Thames

Mike Manisty, outgoing Chief Information Officer for the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), aims to be the first person to undertake a solar powered voyage upstream on the river Thames from Westminster to its furthest navigable point near Lechlade, Gloucestershire. The journey of about 150 miles against the current will draw on his experience in the Royal Navy
where he was responsible for the batteries driving the older diesel-electric submarines, plus some more recent lessons learned implementing IT projects in Government.

Mike will also be placing his trust in the English summer to provide the essential energy for the solar panels that will be used to complete his voyage. Although still in its infancy, solar powered boating has enormous potential especially given the rising cost of fuel and other environmental concerns.

Mike will be raising money for the Prisoners’ Families Helpline, managed by the charity Action for Prisoners’ Families. There will be a launch event at the Westminster Boating Base close to Parliament and Whitehall on 25 June, departing on a favourable flood tide at 2.00pm.

Details of his progress on a journey that is expected to take over two weeks will be available
on a daily blog (www.solarthames.blogspot.com).

For more information, please contact Mike Manisty via email (mike.manisty@justice.gov.uk) or telephone (0777 1671387).

For details about Action for Prisoners’ Families and to sponsor Mike please
visit www.prisonersfamilies.org.uk