Canal charity encouraging new volunteers to help support their local canal

The Canal & River Trust is inviting people in Gloucestershire to join it at an upcoming event where they can discover the volunteering opportunities available to help support the regions historic canals.

The charity is hosting a welcome session to introduce the amazing benefits and skills people can learn, while meeting new people and playing their part to help with the running of the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal and historic Gloucester Docks.

Taking place between 9.30am and 11.30am on Wednesday 17 July at the National Waterways Museum Gloucester, potential volunteers can meet the Trust’s current team of volunteers and discover more about what is involved in becoming a part of the Gloucester Docks task force, an education volunteer or bridge support ranger.

The task force is responsible for caring for areas of Gloucester Docks – Britain’s most inland port. The group maintain different spaces around the docks, making it a pleasant place for the thousands of visitors who come to the docks every year, for boaters and local wildlife.

Education volunteers work as part of the Canal & River Trust’s Explorers programme which brings the regions waterways to life for young people in schools, on the towpath, at waterside events or through the museum. Their work helps inspire children to find out more about canals and rivers, as well as the importance of water safety.

Bridge support rangers act as friendly faces on the canal, talk to the public, make sure people are kept safe, and open the historic swing-bridges on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal for boats to travel through. They play an integral role in the operation of the canal, acting as representatives of the Trust for the 16 miles it stretches from Gloucester to Sharpness.

Aaron Batsman, volunteer leader at Canal & River Trust, said: “With the support of volunteers we can do even more to look after our canals and give people opportunities to learn new skills, meet new people, and improve their wellbeing either by being outside or by knowing they’re making a positive difference to the work we’re doing and to people’s lives.

“The volunteer welcome session at the National Waterways Museum Gloucester is a great chance to come along and find out about what opportunities our charity has to offer. We want people to support their local area and play a role in helping us as a charity to care for the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal and in doing so play their part in keeping canals alive.”

People can find out more about volunteer opportunities with the Canal & River Trust at the welcome session on Wednesday in Gloucester, or by heading online to canalrivertrust.org.uk/volunteer.

Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk