Volunteer Leaflet

Volunteers ...restoring Britain's Waterways

heritage skills restoration bricklaying scrub-bashing machine-driving 1 working holidays festivals environment new skills...

waterway recovery group

about us...

WRGie fact: Every year WRG records over 20,000 volunteer hours, on site, restoring the waterways of England and Wales.

Waterway Recovery Group had its

the complete rebuilding of the four

origins in waterways restoration work

Frankton Locks and the three Aston

during the 1960s, but formally came

Locks on the Montgomery Canal,

into being in 1970. The aim was to

which passes through the spectacular

be a co-ordinating force, not centred

Welsh Borders. Other projects include

upon any individual project but backing

the construction of Over Basin on the

up and assisting local groups on any

Herefordshire and Gloucestershire

worthwhile restoration project. Since

Canal and more recently the restoration

then considerable knowledge and

of the Droitwich Barge Lock in

experience of restoration methods

Worcestershire.

have been built up. At present WRG owns a fleet of vans, and a range of plant including excavators, dumpers, pumps, mixers, and specialist conservation tools.

WRG has helped restore many derelict waterways throughout Britain – one of WRG’s largest projects has been

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www.wrg.org.uk

about us © Ralph Mills

21st century navvy - it could be you!

and stonework; or modern techniques

WRG attracts a wide range of people,

excavators and dumpers …or nothing

from young volunteers taking part in the

more sophisticated than a shovel or a

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme;

trowel!

to waterway enthusiasts who wish to make a contribution to restoring and preserving the system; to people who just want to get outdoors and dirty, have fun and learn new skills.

Volunteers attending our activities must be aged between 18-70, but apart from that age doesn’t matter, nor does previous experience.

The work of a modern canal restoration

such as piling and concreting; or it may involve the use of machinery like

“

I enjoy volunteering with WRG because it gives me the chance to get out in the fresh air, keep active and meet a wide cross section of people, of different ages and backgrounds - Bob Crow

WRG IS PART OF:

”

navvy is very varied... it may involve traditional work such as bricklaying

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www.waterways.org.uk

enquiries@wrg.org.uk

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why?

Every year 10

million people

visit Britain’s canals and inland

From this...

waterways. People go to walk, cruise, canoe, fish or watch wildlife as well as enjoying the wonderful scenery, heritage and tranquility of times gone by.

To this...

Now for a bit of history ….for sixty

being abandoned and altogether

years, from the late 18th century

disappearing from sight – they looked

onwards, Britain’s inland waterways

set to become a part of history.

system expanded to link the country’s rivers, ports, cities and industrial

Luckily, by the 1940s a few visionaries

heartlands. Then, with the beginning of

realised that canals did have a future

the Railway Age, the days of roaring

– for pleasure boating, recreation and

prosperity for the waterways were gone

industrial archaeology.

forever with finance being diverted to build the railways. Those canals that survived the onslaught did so by cutting their tolls to a minimum, meaning that there was little money available to enlarge or improve the waterways, and they slipped slowly into decay.

By the 20th century, the decline was accelerating with many waterways

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01494 783 453

history

© Chris Handscombe

Since then, hundreds of miles of canals and river navigations have been saved from dereliction and gradually more and more miles are being brought back to life by volunteer groups around the country.

Today, Britain’s network of canals and inland waterways are a huge linear national park – a leisure park, a vital wildlife sanctuary, an important industrial heritage site and an environment-friendly transport system all rolled into one. Despite this there

“

WRG offers people a unique volunteering opportunity with the chance to learn new skills such as bricklaying, and be trained in the use of specialist and construction machinery, as well as having the chance to be part of the team that really makes a huge difference to the waterways.

- Mike Palmer, WRG chairman

are still over 2500 miles of derelict

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waterways and that’s where we need your help.

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www.wrg.org.uk

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volunteer Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless.

Choose the right opportunity for you….

canal camp leader/cook

The Waterway Recovery Group

Every year WRG run over 25 week-

runs unique week-long residential

long residential canal camps and we

volunteering opportunities called

are always on the look out for people

Canal Camps, designed to restore the

who would like to come along and cook

derelict waterways of England and

for our hungry volunteers! Fancy the

Wales to their former glory. Canal

challenge of cooking for 18 people? Go

Camps give you the chance to do your

to page 10. We also need volunteers

bit for the environment whilst having

to run our Canal Camps – are you up

a fun holiday. Go on - get outdoors

for the challenge? Check out page 10.

canal camps

and dirty! Read more about our Canal

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© Ralph Mills

Camps on pages 8 and 9.

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enquiries@wrg.org.uk

volunteer

festival volunteer

dirty weekender

Now for something completely different

A lot of voluntary work has to be done

…each year WRG helps to set up

at the weekend, and between them

waterway festivals around England and

WRG’s regional groups ensure that

Wales. Festival camps are a great way

almost every weekend there will be

to meet new people, learn new skills

volunteers at work somewhere in the

and, most importantly have fun! We

country restoring the waterways. If you

always need volunteers to come along

fancy being a dirty weekender find out

and help out - go to page 11 and find

more on pages 12 and 13.

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© Tim Lewis

out what’s involved.

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canal camps

week-long holidays run by volunteers for volunteers

A Canal Camp is an enjoyable week’s

used whatever was available to hand

outdoor holiday spent working on the

to build the canal. Combine this with

canals. It’s a great opportunity to meet

the many different jobs involved in

all sorts of new people from all walks

restoring a canal and you will find that

of life, of all ages and from all over the

Canal Camps offer a wide variety of

country and abroad as well as learning

work. Each camp offers you different

new skills.

opportunities from restoring a lock chamber and learning to lay bricks,

It can also be used as an excellent

to driving excavators and reprofiling

opportunity for the residential aspect of

a section of canal or rebuilding a

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. No

towpath... and even more muddy skills

previous experience necessary – you

like clearing smelly black slimy silt from

just need to be willing to have fun and

lock!

get involved.

Whatever volunteering opportunity

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The work: No two canal work sites are

you choose, it will be a unique and

exactly the same. Every canal has its

memorable experience, and will help

own distinctive features and building

bring the derelict waterways of England

materials, as the original canal builders

and Wales back to life!

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www.wrg.org.uk

canal camps

camp facts When? WRG run over 25 Canal Camps every year – mostly in the summer months from June to September, but we also have an October Camp and a camp running from Boxing Day to New Years Day. For up to date information on camps go to www.wrg.org.uk or email to request a brochure.

transport: many people come by car, but if you arrive by train/bus we’ll pick you up from the station in one of our big red vans. working day: the working day usually runs from 9am to 5pm … but don’t worry there will be plenty of tea breaks! We try to organise social activities in the evenings (eg swimming, cinema, boat trips) for those who want to take part.

age: anyone aged between 18-70 cost: Between £56-£80 (this includes food and basic accommodation) accommodation: best described as ‘basic’ in one large room. You will need to bring a sleeping bag and sleeping mat/airbed/camping bed with you (don’t worry we make sure you get to have a

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warm shower at the end of each day!)

find out more! online www.wrg.org.uk call us 01494 783 453 email us enquiries@wrg.org.uk or write to Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, HP5 1WA

enquiries@wrg.org.uk

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camp leaders / camp cooks

Every year WRG run over 25 Canal

Training Day, then email leaders@

Camps and this means we need to find

waterways.org.uk and register your

up to 50 volunteer Canal Camp leaders

interest.

and assistant leaders each year.

As well as leaders we need to recruit As leaders you need to be able to give

Canal Camp cooks – do you fancy

up a week, have camp experience of

cooking for 18 hungry volunteers?!

Canal Camps, and most of all be willing

Then email cook@waterways.org.uk.

to look after 18 wonderful volunteers!

To ensure that WRG Canal Camps are a fun and safe experience we also run a leaders training day so that leaders and assistants can get together and discuss all the different aspects of leading a camp.

If you are interested in becoming a leader or coming along to the Leaders’

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01494 783 453

festivals © Tim Lewis

festivals Some of our volunteering opportunities aren’t directly concerned with waterway restoration at all – they involve helping run waterway festivals.

“

Went there, did that - and got the T shirt!

First time and loved it. Will definitely be there again next year!

- Alex Bibby

At these events, we help to set up the festival site beforehand – erecting

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marquees, stalls, arenas, fencing, constructing boat moorings and lots more! Then we help to run the festival itself, and take it all down again afterwards! You can volunteer for up to 10 days depending on the festival - check out www.wrg.org.uk for more information.

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www.wrg.org.uk

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dirty weekends Somewhere, every weekend throughout the year, there will be a dirty weekender helping restore the waterways of Britain.

WRG Forestry WRG Forestry Team draws its members from the regional working parties. The Team carry out work from a single tree removal to major scrub and tree clearance, for canal restoration projects. All the Team’s chainsaw operators have undergone

Find your local group...

LANTRA & NPTC training.

WRG Bit In The Middle WRG North West Draws membership from anywhere Our most northern regional group,

that isn’t covered by our other groups,

based in Manchester. It mainly

and even some who are! They have

organises weekend digs in and around

members from as far afield as Kent,

North West, North East and Wales on

Herefordshire and East Anglia,

canals such as the Manchester, Bolton

although most are from the home

and Bury Canal, Montgomery Canal

counties. BITM works on a wide variety

and Chesterfield Canal.

of sites, based mainly around central &

WRG South West Formed in 2004 with the aim of restoring canals in the South West, including the Herefordshire & Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire and Brecon, Cotswold, Grand Western and Wilts and Berks canals. WRGSW are always on the look out for new volunteers to join them on weekend digs.

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southern England.

London WRG Regular weekend digs on canals throughout the country. Most of its members come from London but they also welcome people from around the country. London WRG mainly work on canals in southern England, such as the Wilts & Berks, Cotswold, Basingstoke and Lichfield canals.

enquiries@wrg.org.uk

weekenders Essex WRG

dirty weekends

Formed from the Chelmsford Branch

costs between £8 and £15

of The Inland Waterways Association

which includes food and

following completion of the Springfield

accommodation.

Basin restoration on the Chelmer &

accommodation is basic, you

Blackwater Navigation. This group

will need to bring a sleeping bag

was assembled to harness the skills

and sleeping mat.

developed on this project for use on

transport: WRG can pick you up

other schemes in the South East. It

from the nearest

runs both single day and weekend

rail/bus station

work-parties and new volunteers are

or try and find

always made very welcome.

you a lift.

keep up to date

... by subscribing to ‘navvies’ the Waterway Recovery

Groups magazine for people restoring the waterways. It only costs £3.00* for 6 issues a year.

Subscribe online www.wrg.org.uk/navvies

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* additional donations welcomed

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training New Experiences – New Skills… learn how to operate machinery, lay bricks and help restore Britain’s industrial heritage!

diggers, dumpers and dredgers.

Many people still call what we do canal digging, but nowadays we rarely do it by hand with picks and shovels – we use excavators and dumper-trucks instead.

and most importantly ensures that they are safe to do so. The Driver Authorisation Scheme card is neither a ‘driving licence’ nor a certificate of competence, but gives volunteers the opportunity to learn a completely new skill whilst on a canal camp.

To find out more about driving diggers, dumpers, vans and much

To ensure that sites are managed responsibly and due care is taken with regard to control of plant and vehicle operation, WRG runs a Driver Authorisation Scheme. This allows

more check out the WRG website www.wrg.org.uk

training weekend

volunteers to be trained, by specialist instructors, on items of plant such as

Every year WRG runs a training

excavators, dumpers and tractors,

weekend which allows volunteers

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www.wrg.org.uk

training © David Miller

to learn new skills and whilst also improving and developing skills learnt previously. We run courses in writing risk assessments, first aid, bricklaying, surveying, operating excavators and much more. This weekend is a great chance to become a true 21st century navvy! To find out when the next training weekend is email training@wrg.org.uk

“

I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and it’s the best hobby I’ve ever done, to meet like minded people and to do a worthwhile activity is amazing!

-Becky Parr

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enquiries@wrg.org.uk

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find out what we are up to this year

© Ralph Mills

online: www.wrg.org.uk call us: 01494 783 453 email us: enquiries@wrg.org.uk follow us on twitter: @wrg_navvies find us on facebook: ‘WRG’

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Waterway Recovery Group is part of The Inland Waterways Association (registered office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, HP5 1WA). The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee, registered in England no 612245, and registered as a charity no 212342. VAT registration no 342 0715 89. Copyright Waterway Recovery Group 2012.

WRG reserves the right to decline bookings without a specified reason. Photos supplied by WRG volunteers.