Rallies, restoration...a bit of everything
The IWA has been attracting volunteers since it was first set up in 1946 to campaign against the closure of the canals. Today, thousands of people across the UK willingly give up their time to volunteer for different types of activities.
Gillian Bolt from the IWA gives an example: “The IWA Chester and District Branch holds social meetings to listen to speakers on waterway related matters, every month from October to May. We currently have in excess of 50 people attending these and have had over 70 quite recently. We also have a thriving committee of around 14 people who take on roles such as publicising branch activities, checking planning applications in our area, organising clean-ups and arranging boat rallies to raise awareness of the waterways and the benefits they bring. The rallies usually attract over 70 boats and two to three thousand visitors, depending on the location.
“We run WOW (Wild over Waterways) activities so that we can engage with young people and hopefully interest them in the waterways’ history and conservation as well as water safety. We have a branch stand which is often taken to other events, promoting the IWA and its message. We do monthly waterside walks which are advertised in the local press and finally we have a branch magazine, the Chester Packet, which is circulated to branch members and other interested groups.”
For more information, a diary of events and contact details, take a look at the IWA website
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