Waterways Action Squad Blog » volunteering

Musicians wanted

AliceA — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 14:07:24 +0000

We are looking for talented young musicians who would like to join in music and songwriting workshops and write some new pieces to celebrate the Waterways (that’s canals and rivers to you and me) with Tom Kitching fiddle player and canal enthusiast extraordinaire, and renowned Singer-songwriter Gren Bartley. You can work as a soloist, as an existing band, or create a new act with other volunteers – this will be a great opportunity to meet other musicians and swap ideas.

The workshops start from the beginning of February and will finish with a performance evening between April 22nd – 24th at the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port.

musicians at the museum

This is not a beginners course – You should already be able to play or sing to a basic standard, though you don’t need to have done grades. A basic understanding of music theory OR the ability to learn by ear would be useful.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Simon Colderley or Hazel Mayow on 0151 373 4392, or email simon.colderley@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk hazel.mayow@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk

Polly’s Day Horseboating

ChristyM — Tue, 25 May 2010 15:27:38 +0000

On a lovely April 28th a few very brave people took to a boat to begin a journey from Slaithwaite to Huddersfield powered only by horse! Starting at 10am and arriving at their destination at 6pm

‘It was a day of trials and tribulations that we overcame as a team – great fun!’ (Mayow, Hazel 2010). Here is an account by a Waterways Action Squad volunteer who helped to crew the boat on the day…

I signed up to help the Horseboating Society because I was very interested to see this old style of boating in practice. I wasn’t sure what to expect before I arrived but I did imagine it to be very arduous for the horse. I was surprised that the boat glided effortlessly and Bilbo (the Society horse) didn’t seem to struggle at all. There was a gentle silence to the boat, which is not possible with a motored barge, and when we weren’t preoccupied with the locks it was relaxing to walk alongside it. I’d never operated a lock before so that was an experience in itself, some of them were quite easy but others were rusty and they posed a bit of a challenge.

When the narrowboat, horse and crew in (mostly) full Victorian dress passed through more urban areas the difference between old and new was striking and it made a nice image.

It was exciting to ride in the boat through a long, dark tunnel, which had been especially built beneath a development to accommodate passing boats. There was no room for Bilbo who had to be taken along another route to meet us at the other side. Without the horse towing us members of the crew used poles against the side of the walls to push us along. I appreciated seeing this technique but I was quite glad we didn’t need to ‘leg’ the boat through. ‘Legging’ involves lying on the narrowboat and pushing it along a tunnel with your feet using the walls or ceiling. I wasn’t sure I was quite ready for the indignity of that!

It was an interesting day and I’d encourage anyone to have a look at horseboating in action if you get the chance.

Polly xxx

Final word from the Anderton Boat Lift

JohnB — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:38:25 +0000

Now this is intersesting. At the Anderton Boat Lift in Cheshire. A massive great engineering structure now in full working order and one of the show piece visitor locations on the Trent and Mersey Canal. Lots of volunteering opportunities around here too – helping school visits at the Education Centre, towpath tidying – maybe even helping out in the cafeteria – something for all sorts and all ages. Come and take look or contact Lucie at the Waterway Action Squad lucie.unsworth@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk

Even more from the Anderton Boat Lift…

RobinE — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:25:30 +0000

Andedrton Boat Lift is such an inspiring place. To see what the Victorians built gives me huge encouragement as tojust how much we could do with the same conviction and belief

More from the Anderton Boat Lift…

EdF — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:20:49 +0000

Standing next to two expert bloggers minutes before I have to go and give a presentation on social media – I feel humble. And ignorant!

Anderton Boat Lift

TonyH — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:15:39 +0000

Here at the Anderton Boat Lift, wet miserable day but great happy kids here. dressed up in old clothes and made clothes peg doll. Helped by Action Squad leaders. Good to see them again after last time at the museum. At launch event cool bands, great snakes and old boats. Wow. Back soon I hope. t.

The Waterways Revolution

LucieU — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:48:42 +0000

Under 25s take the helm!!

Waterways Action Squad is a new youth volunteering project from The Waterways Trust and British Waterways. Funded by v, the national charity for youth volunteering (www.vinspired.com) and the Bank of America, the project aims to encourage young people aged 16-25 to get involved in the care and promotion of canals and rivers in the North West.

Over 570 volunteering opportunities will be created throughout the project, forming a diverse programme of activities and enabling the young people involved to develop a wide range of practical and life skills. The activities will range from one off taster sessions to part time activities and full time placements. Specific tasks and projects will be developed in consultation with young people themselves but the list below is designed to provide a few ideas as to the types of activities that may be delivered.

Practical tasks: may include; scrub-clearance, hedge-laying, habitat improvement, tow-path improvements, canal clean-ups and conservation of historic structures.
Monitoring and surveying: wildlife surveys of key species, creation of identification sheets for bank-side staff, heritage cataloguing to record structures and artefacts.
Customer service: tow-path rangers, Front of House duties, Guides, café volunteers.
Interpretation and promotion: creation and development of interpretation events and activities at key sites, volunteer site guides, development of web-based learning and visitor information etc.