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Volunteering search
On these pages we show volunteering opportunities with a wide range of waterway groups. You can simply browse the listed opportunities or filter your search using the fields below.
If you would like to list a volunteering opportunity here please email volunteer@britishwaterways.co.uk
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British Waterways - Archives Angel
The Waterways Archive collects, preserves and makes publicly available records relating to our inland waterways. These include plans, drawings, accounts, photographs and letters. At the core of the collection are the archives of British Waterways and the early canal companies, which trace the history of Britain�s inland waterways back to its very roots in the 17th century.
Opportunities Available:
Recording and monitoring
What's in it for you: This is an opportunity to gain valuable experience working with the archive assistant on a range of aspects associated with the archives of National Waterways Museum Collection.
Key Skills Required: Good organisational skills and a proactive approach are key to this role whilst a general interest in history and some knowledge of the history of canals is desirable but not essential.
This role involves some light lifting and carrying so requires some physical fitness.
Training Offered: Role specific training will be given.
Nearest waterway: Shropshire Union
Email: emma.wright@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk
Website: www.waterwaysactionsquad.com
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British Waterways - Booking Office Assistant
The Anderton Boat Lift is a busy tourist attraction which sees coach tours and school parties visiting on a very regular basis. Help is needed in the booking office and there is opportunity to be involved with all aspects of this busy office including answering the telephone, making bookings, mail outs, and designing leaflets. The office is friendly and volunteers would be in a supportive environment where there is opportunity to undertake larger projects if and when they feel ready.
Opportunities Available:
Customer service
What's in it for you: The office is friendly and volunteers would be in a supportive environment where there is opportunity to undertake larger projects if and when they feel ready
Key Skills Required: No experience is necessary. Good communication and IT skills would help although we are willing to help you improve.
Training Offered: There is the opportunity to undertake first aid training and we can offer training on computer skills if necessary. All volunteers are eligible for accreditation from v, the youth volunteering charity and there is the opportunity to undertake the Youth Achievement Awards.
Nearest waterway: Rochdale
Email: emma.wright@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk
Website: www.waterwaysactionsquad.com
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British Waterways - Customer Service Superstar
Our busy British Waterways office in Northwich is in need of a volunteer over the summer months to help things run smoothly and give our customers a good standard of service. British Waterways is the organisation that cares for 2,200 miles of the country's canals and rivers and licenses thousands of boats every year. As a volunteer you'll be situated at the front desk and be the first point of contact for our visitors so you'll need to have good communication skills and a winning smile. You will be responsible for dealing with enquiries face-to-face and over the phone which will include boaters' booking passages through locks and licensing enquiries. You will also help visitors sign in, manage the enquiries email inbox and undertake a range of administrative duties.
Opportunities Available:
Customer service
What's in it for you: This is an excellent opportunities to gain reception, customer service and administrative experience and develop useful skills.
Key Skills Required: You will need to be a competent IT user and you should feel confident enough to answer the telephone.
Training Offered: Role specific training.
We can enrol you on an ECDL (European Computer Driving License) course or similar.
Nearest waterway: Trent and Mersey
Email: emma.wright@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk
Website: www.waterwaysactionsquad.com
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British Waterways - Exhibitions Enthusiast
This is an excellent opportunity for anybody interested in a curatorial career or museum work in general. You would be working closely with the collections manager on a range of aspects associated with the maintenance, display and research of the National Waterways Museum collection at Ellesmere Port. Housed in Victorian dock buildings on the waterside there's a huge collection to take care of at the museum and we need your help.
Tasks could include:
*Cataloguing of records
*Object cleaning
*Researching collection
*Working on exhibition research
Maintenance of exhibition displays
Opportunities Available:
Practical, recording and monitoring
What's in it for you: Develpoing organisational skills and learning the ways and workings of a museum whilst developing and enhancing your knowledge of the waterways
Key Skills Required: Good organisational skills and a proactive approach are needed and it would help if you have a general interest in history.
Training Offered: You will be given adequate role specific training.
Nearest waterway: Shropshire Union
Email: emma.wright@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk
Website: www.waterwaysactionsquad.com
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British Waterways - Interpretation Assistant
Help develop and deliver interactive interpretation across the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port. You'll have extensive opportunity to interpret Porters Row: a row of historic cottages and a cottage garden which present a pictures of domestic life through the ages in Ellesmere Port's canal docks.
Task could include:
*Identifying ways to improve the visitor experience
*Costume interpretation and interaction with visitors
*Developing the current museum tour and acting as a museum guide
*Commentary on our trip boat
Opportunities Available:
Practical, customer service
What's in it for you: If you're interested in a career in museums then this could be a great opportunity to gain valuable experience.
Key Skills Required: Good communication skills and public speaking skills will come in handy although these will develop during your volunteering. An interest in and knowledge of the history of canals is desirable but by no means essential.
Acting experience may prove useful for costume interpretation work.
Training Offered: Role specific training will be given.
Nearest waterway: Shropshire Union
Email: emma.wright@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk
Website: www.waterwaysactionsquad.com
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British Waterways - Restoration of an Ancient Monument
Bugsworth Canal Basin was the largest and busiest inland port on Britain's narrow canal system and the only one to survive intact but by the 1960s it was derelict and almost lost under vegetation. Volunteers of the Inland Waterways Protection Society (IWPS) have restored the site over three decades through a combination of knowledge, dedication and the sheer determination to bring the site back to life. Although boats can now moor at the Basin again, improvements and development are still needed so we will be working with the IWPS to preserve the historic structures and industrial archaeology. Find out more at http://www.brocross.com/iwps/
Opportunities Available:
Practical
What's in it for you: This is an opportunity to learn new skills, get out in the fresh air, and meet new people - but its also valuable experience for your CV. If there is a particular activity or aspect of the canal ecosystem, engineering or archaeology that fits with your course we would be more than happy to help you set it up as a project or dissertation as long as you agree to abide by IWPS Health and Safety regulations, and share any data you might collect.
Key Skills Required: Just a willingness to get involved, and awareness of your own and other people's safety.
Training Offered: Full Health and safety and equipment training will be given on practical work days, plus Wildlife Identification, Surveying, Leadership, Customer Service and project management accreditations as appropriate for longer term involvement.
Nearest waterway: Peak Forest Canal
Email: hazel.mayow@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk
Website: www.waterwaysactionsquad.com
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British Waterways - Waterways Education Outreach volunteer
British Waterways have an excellent education provision for children aged 7-11 and their teachers, families and group leaders. The Wild over Water (WOW) team teach children to safely explore the canals and rivers of Britain through resources and activities, many of which are delivered in schools. Demand for these activities from primary schools is very high so we need some outgoing volunteers to promote to and make bookings with schools and deliver activities to classes which would include walks along the towpath to learn about their history and environment and workshops in school on topics such as water safety, the history of the waterways, habitats and waterways at war. It would be possible to work with pairs with another volunteer when delivering in schools if you prefer.
Opportunities Available:
Interpretation and promotion, practical
What's in it for you: This opportunity is available though out the north-west although you�d need to be able to get to Northwich for training and occasional catch ups.
Key Skills Required: Experience of public speaking and of working with children would be very beneficial. You�ll need to be well organised and a confident communicator.
We will need to undertake an enhanced CRB check for this role.
Training Offered: You will be given training on how to deliver each topic pack and how to ensure other people�s safety near the water. You will undertake water safety training and we can also arrange for training on public speaking and on working with children.
Nearest waterway: Trent and Mersey
Email: emma.wright@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk
Website: www.waterwaysactionsquad.com
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British Waterways - Website Wizard
British Waterways have an excellent education provision for children aged 7-11 and their teachers, families and group leaders. The Wild over Water (WOW) team teach children to safely explore the canals and rivers of Britain through resources and activities. Their website www.wow4water.net showcases these resources and gives lots of information on events and news. We need a dedicated volunteer to keep this website up-to-date and in good working order. You'll be updating the news section with stories for both children and adults and also the events section. You'll keep a log of and report any glitches on the website as these can potentially go unnoticed.
Opportunities Available:
Recording and monitoring
What's in it for you: The chance to help maintain a busy website and practice and obtain new computer skills
Key Skills Required: No experience is necessary but you will need to be a competent IT user and have a keen eye for detail
Training Offered: Role specific training will be given.
Nearest waterway: Trent and Mersey
Email: emma.wright@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk
Website: www.waterwaysactionsquad.com
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British Waterways Restoration Volunteer - Droitwich
Come and help us with the final preparations for the re-opening of the Droitwich Canal. We meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays to undertake practical tasks such as installing signs, painting, vegetation control and carry out minor repairs.
Opportunities Available:
Practical, customer service
What's in it for you: Being part of a team to help complete the 30 year+ restoration of the Droitwich Canal, potential of training, opportunity to work outside.
Key Skills Required: Enthusiasm and willingness to work in a team
Training Offered: All training appropriate to the task will be provided
Nearest waterway: Droitwich Canals
Email: suzanne.byrne@britishwaterways.co.uk
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British Waterways Working Boats Volunteers
Do you know how much of a part canal boats have played in Britain's history? Do you know how much we owe to the families who worked the boats? The Heritage Working Boats and the volunteers who crew them are here to let you discover- for yourself. The history of our island - your heritage - is within your grasp! You could help move, maintain and promote British Waterways boats across the Midlands
Opportunities Available:
Interpretation and promotion, practical, recording and monitoring, customer service, management and supervision
What's in it for you: The opportunity to move 70 year old working boats using traditional skills (training given). The opportunity to enthuse others about the boats lives and the people who lived and worked on them
Key Skills Required: For the different roles, skills needed include: a team player, good people skills both as part of a team and communicating to the public, practical skills including technical knowledge of boats. These are not all essential to volunteer but are very helpful.
Training Offered: training is linked to the different roles and include: working with children, crewing a boat, traditional boating skills, health & safety and more
Nearest waterway: Birmingham Main Line
Email: stephen.Bicknell@britishwaterways.co.uk
Website: www.heritageworkingboats.org.uk/
