Waterways Action Squad Blog » volunteering

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

Launch Event a Success!

LucieU — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:35:57 +0000

L-R: Lucie Unsworth - Project Manager; Katie Williams - Volunteer; Hazel Mayow - Volunteer Leader

On Sunday 25^th October 2009, we held our Launch Event at the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port. The day was a massive success, attracting around 350 visitors to the site including Mayor Tony Sherlock, several local MPs, the BBC, and representatives from our partners (The Waterways Trust and British Waterways) and funders (The Bank of America and v – the National Young Volunteers Service).

We were particularly pleased that the launch attracted both families and young adults, largely due to the sheer diversity of the activities and displays on offer. Traditional arts and crafts ran alongside local rock bands in the Island Warehouse; Wildlife demonstrations – from owls to snakes to shire horses – shared a space with free-runners and improvisational comedians; and while some took to the water for a trip in the museum’s boat Centaur, others climbed about Bigmere where live music was performed throughout the day.

Wildlife Displays

We got heaps of positive feedback from visitors and volunteers alike. West Cheshire College Student and Young Volunteer, Maria Safina enthused – “Everybody’s been enjoying it, they’ve been getting involved with the wildlife, the bands have been a big success…they have added toward the cause…I think awareness is being spread”.

The launch, and all we achieved there, could never have happened without the hard work of our young volunteers. A total of fifty-three young volunteers helped out on the day, serving in roles that ranged from event management to photography to media and communications management. The event was largely organised by thirty West Cheshire College students whose involvement will go towards a v Award Certification, increasing their chances of successfully securing acceptance into universities as well as future work. All of our volunteers did a fantastic job and we would like to extent our thanks for their boundless enthusiasm and all of the effort they put in.

The event also saw the launch of our photography competition, The Secret Lives of Canals and Rivers. Anyone between the ages of 16 and 25 can enter for the chance to win a boat trip for them and their friends. All you need to do is send in one or more photographs that depict what the waterways mean to you. Whether it is the wildlife and natural environment of the area, the narrow-boats, or perhaps the history of the canal industry that inspires you; anything goes! For more information on the competition or to send us your photographs, contact our volunteer co-ordinator, Emma Wright on emma.wright@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk

Article written by Sarah Glenister, Waterways Action Squad volunteer

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.