Community spirit is alive and well on the nation’s canals with record numbers of people volunteering, says the waterways and wellbeing charity Glandŵr Cymru – the Canal & River Trust in Wales.

To meet the growing demand from people to spend time helping to care for its waterways in Wales, the Trust is expanding the number and range of volunteering roles that if offers: everything from the iconic lock keeper to teaching children about water safety; from inspiring youngsters to take up fishing to supporting our wide range of professional teams.

Caroline Kendall, volunteer development co-ordinator for Glandŵr Cymru, Wales & SW said:

“As we enter a new year, and a new decade, we are delighted that so many people want to support  Glandŵr Cymru and make a difference to their local community.

“On the waterways, community spirit is very much alive and well, with our canals and river navigations at the heart of such a diverse variety of villages, towns and cities. And, with so many ways to get involved, 2020 can be a year when more people take positive action for their local canal, for their community, and – because we know that volunteering and spending time outdoors, by water, is good for wellbeing – for themselves.”

In 2019 Glandŵr Cymru saw record numbers of people volunteer 671,000 hours of their time to the waterways, with volunteers in Wales and the South West dedicating 87,000 hours of their time to the charity.

Caroline continues:

“With more boats on the nation’s canals than at the height of the Industrial Revolution, and research showing that spending time by water helps people feel happier and healthier, it’s a great time to discover the country’s waterways.

“Far from being industrial relics or unloved backwaters, the dedicated efforts of thousands of volunteers have made canals the heart of the communities they run through.  And with a remarkable 50% of the population living within five miles of a canal or river navigation, they are perfectly placed to provide free, accessible, natural environments where everyone can come to unwind and to embrace a happier and healthier lifestyle.”

In 2020 Glandŵr Cymru is building on the popularity of waterways volunteering by creating an even wider range of volunteer roles.  Opportunities include:

• Volunteer lock keepers and towpath rangers including Bridge and Lock Support Rangers
  Volunteer lock keepers and towpath rangers offer a friendly welcome to visitors and boaters and help people get to know their local canal.  The Trust is offering more flexibility in terms of time commitment and scope of these ever-popular and iconic roles, with some positions still available. (More information can be found at www.canalrivertrust.org.uk.)
• Education volunteers
  Volunteers work with schools to teach pupils about water safety and anything and everything canal-related, inspiring the next generation of waterway-lovers.  They can also take part in running activities on the towpath, at canal festivals, and local fairs.
• Let’s activity volunteers
  Volunteers for the Trust’s Let’s Fish programme help host hundreds of free learn-to-fish events for all the family, regardless of background or ability.  The Trust is building its Let’s activity programme and there will be further opportunities, for example walk leaders, throughout the year.
• Towpath Maintenance teams
  This role will support the local operations team in the delivery of different maintenance jobs
• Admin Volunteers
  Admin volunteers for the charity support the management team with varied admin tasks.

Caroline concludes:

“As the arteries of Britain’s Industrial Revolution, the waterways were once in danger of being forgotten about when the demand for waterborne freight declined.  We owe a debt to the hard-working volunteers who helped to save them.

It’s heartening to see this passion for the waterways continue, as a new generation of volunteers in Wales continues to give us its support.  Our passionate volunteers have helped our charity to achieve so much and, with the waterways busier than ever before, we are enjoying a second Golden Canal Age, their benefit to people everywhere now firmly established.”