The Canal & River Trust is celebrating a rise in community spirit on the nation’s canals with record numbers of people volunteering
CRT is celebrating a rise in community spirit on the nation’s canals with record numbers of people volunteering.
To meet the growing demand from people to spend time helping to care for its waterways across England and 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 its wide range of professional teams.
Chief executive Richard Parry said: “As we enter a new year, and a new decade, we are delighted that so many people want to support the Canal & River Trust 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 across England & Wales. 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.”
Last year CRT saw record numbers of people volunteer 671,000 hours of their time to the waterways. There was a 27 percent increase in volunteer lock keepers across the network, to 1,130, and the first volunteer to record a staggering 10,000 hours of volunteering time since the charity’s formation in 2012.
Richard 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 Britain’s waterways.
