Welcome

Welcome to the Spring issue of Waterways. The season might not be upon us quite yet as we have another month or so to go before we will truly feel the e ects of the changing weather, but the new year undoubtedly brings a sense of hope and renewal that should li our spirits as we look forward to all that the months ahead have to o er.

Certainly, as 2022 gets underway, I have been encouraged by the scope of IWA’s activities up and down the country and I know you will get an insight into that in the pages of this issue. Each quarter, as I look through the contents of the magazine, there are always articles that jump out and I’m sure it’s the same for you, but I encourage you to take the time to read each and every feature to fi nd out what our volunteers – your fellow members – have been up to, and about the opportunities that we have to make a real di erence to the UK’s waterways.

To all our enthusiastic volunteers who are involved in each of the essential, core activities and support roles throughout the Association I would like to take this opportuni to say, “Thank you.” I say the same to our employees, who are a vital part of the team. If you’re not actively involved at the moment, I hope the news and articles in the pages that follow will inspire you to get more involved.

Most members will know that I am relatively new to the waterways scene, having been active only in the past eight years. My growing iendships with the veterans of the waterways, particularly since joining IWA’s Board of Trustees, has certainly helped to fi ll in the gaps in my knowledge, but it is my avid interest in the history of the waterways and of IWA that provides both the context and inspiration for my role in the organisation.

I’m currently reading The River Runs Uphill, Robert Aickman’s account of his involvement in the early days of the Association, and it never fails to amaze me how the challenges we face today have so much in common with those fi rst few decades in IWA’s history. Aickman’s refl ections on a question I am equently asked, “How do we encourage more people to join IWA and inspire those who do to get more actively involved?”, gave me food for thought:

In the early years, I conversed several times a day on the telephone with strangers enquiring for particulars. About one in three asked me what they would “get out of joining”. I would reply with all possible fi rmness:

“Nothing. Members receive a Bulletin which has been well spoken of. There are fairly equent meetings, and dinners, and trips on the waterway. Many seem to think they are well run and enjoyable. But none of these are reasons for joining. They’re all adjuncts to a campaign. The only reason for joining is belief in the campaign.”

So, what is the ‘campaign’? We have many campaigning activities today, but all ultimately focus on the one overarching theme: the e ective restoration and maintenance of the UK’s waterways system for the benefi t of all who want to make use of it today and in the future.

We can all relate to that and, more importantly, we can all make a contribution to that overarching campaign, no ma er our location, interests, passions, skills – there is something for everyone in advancing the cause of the waterways.

The best example of the resurgence in member engagement is IWA’s current Save Waterways Heritage Campaign (see page 10). As I write, over 500 volunteers have stepped forward to become an IWA Heritage Champion! This campaign focuses on just one of half-a-dozen or so areas where IWA has strategic aims. As well as ‘Heritage: the protection of our unique waterways assets and culture’, we have identifi ed other areas of equal importance: • Restoration: both directly and in support of local restoration trusts. • Planning: with active review and intervention on planning issues a ecting our waterways. • Environment: advancing the green agenda. • Maintenance and Navigation: partnering on the upkeep and maintenance of the waterways. • Enabling Users: refl ecting and supporting a diverse range of waterways users.

Let’s all take inspiration om our 500 Heritage Champions. IWA needs you as never before as we seek to rediscover the activism of the days of Aickman and Rolt. I hope the following pages will renew your enthusiasm for the waterways. Thank you for everything you do for the waterways as a member, volunteer or supporter.

Paul Rodgers, IWA National Chair