Get your business involved Work with us to benefit your organisation, the environment and local communities About the Canal & River Welcome Trust The Canal & River Trust was launched in 2012 with the The Canal & River Trust is the new charity set up to care for aim of looking after waterways for everyone to enjoy, now England and Wales’ wonderful legacy of 200 year-old waterways, and in the future. holding them in trust for the nation forever. The Trust is among the Fifty percent of the population of England and Wales lives UK’s biggest charities, with responsibility for 2,000 miles of canals, within five miles of one of our canals or river navigations. Through rivers, docks and reservoirs, along with museums, archives and increased work with local communities, we will breathe new life into our 2,000 mile canal and river network. This will help more the country’s third largest collection of protected historic buildings. people discover and enjoy the magic of the waterways, and improve access for current and future generations. Our work Our canals and rivers are used by more You and your business could be a part of this. The waterways people and for a wider variety of purposes can give you greater contact with the communities around you, than ever before. Over 35,000 boats and and collaborating with them will have a positive impact on your 10 million towpath visitors use them as an business. And it goes without saying that your team’s escape from the hurly burly of modern life. contribution as volunteers can make a huge difference to the It’s our responsibility to maintain the people who live and work along the canal. waterways for the benefit and safety of these visitors as well as our neighbours. But, what can you and your company do for us and what can we do for you? Pease read on to discover what opportunities Our funding are available. Once Britain’s most powerful transport The main sources of the Trust’s funding are system, our waterways are now a focus for income from boating, property and utilities economic renewal in the towns and cities and a 15-year contract with government. they helped to create. They are also a This funding is important for keeping our nationally important wildlife corridor. precious waterways running, but it’s not enough to make our canals and rivers truly We aim to: special places for people and nature. This • breathe new life into our canals is why we need the support of volunteers Richard Parry and rivers to help look after our waterways. Chief Executive • ensure our canals and rivers are cherished by and make a difference We also seek voluntary donations to the communities they serve from the general public, trusts and • help people discover and enjoy the companies. Every penny from this funding magic of the waterways is spent directly to conserve, restore and • increase access to our canals and enhance our waterways, and educate rivers for current and future generations people about them.
Corporate Adoption Handbook 1 Tailor-made for your Benefits for businesses your business
In recent years we’ve seen a growing desire from businesses Corporate Social Responsibility has become integral to many to get involved with us, via the direct action of their teams or companies’ operations and values. We can offer you a unique through financial support. opportunity to contribute to the environment and society in which you operate, as well as build and motivate your team. In response to this, we have developed a series of fantastic opportunities which can be tailored for the individual company. These schemes are mutually beneficially As a result of a volunteering to our organisations, the environment and partnership with us, you’ll gain: local communities. • recognition within the local community • an improved environment for employees We can provide opportunities which are: and local people • local or national • a sense of satisfaction and pride • short and sharp or long-term amongst the team and sustained • a more motivated team • outdoor or indoor • new connections and improved • relevant to local employees’ lives relationships amongst your staff • exceptional for your branding and PR • an opportunity to talent-spot within your team by providing them with the Typical tasks – take your pick A member of the public has just chance to show different skills, put a note in the comments book at leadership and initiative Your team could take on a range of Cambrian House, saying how good rewarding tasks, either as a one-off ‘‘Farmers Bridge lock flight is looking opportunity or as part of a sustained after the work HFC Bank carried campaign. They could be involved in: out with us • painting lock gates Rachel Chester, the Trust’s West • leading guided walks Midlands Administration Team’’ • removing non-native vegetation and replacing with native wild plants and trees I really feel as though we • visiting local schools to talk about canals • building bat roosts ‘‘ • removing graffiti • welcoming visitors to one of made a difference the Trust’s offices out there today The rewards are endless – why not give it a try? BT Volunteer’’
2 Corporate Adoption Handbook Corporate Adoption Handbook 3 Case Study Corporate HSBC Bank Opportunities Transforming the canal in 12 months Some ways we can work together A canal adoption by HSBC Bank has resulted in the transformation Team days marketing, engineering, human resources of a stretch of the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal. Working with the Canal Team days are a great opportunity for and retail. Secondments can be for three & River Trust provided HSBC with the perfect opportunity to improve you and your employees to learn new to six months or longer. the environment and make a difference to their local community. skills and work together in different ways. Advisory roles Typically from 9.30am to 4pm, team Defining the job days are suitable for up to 20 people. Within our governance structure we HSBC adopted a stretch of canal in the No previous experience or skills are have various advisory groups and Snow Hill area, close to its office in the required, and the days can be tailored waterway partnerships, made up of centre of Birmingham. We worked with to meet your specific requirements. volunteer members. The members them to define the exact section, review come from a range of backgrounds what improvements were needed, and Canal adoption and interests, and are recruited based decide which tasks were suitable for This is the chance to support a stretch on the needs of the individual group. employees to carry out. They agreed to of canal close to your company’s offices. Education & Learning remove graffiti, paint locks and bridges, It’s a fantastic way to build staff morale, clear weeds and install benches. getting them involved in enhancing Explorer education volunteers share and protecting their local environment. their passion for our waterways by leading sessions for school children Making a difference It puts you at the heart of your community, and offers positive PR opportunities. and other groups. It’s an ideal way to Over 12 months, more than 170 HSBC encourage your employees to volunteer employees spent several days on the Adoptions are for 12 month periods and involve 100 volunteering days. in the community outside working hours. canal. They undertook the designated We provide training and carry out tasks, and promoted the project and National canal adoption background checks. waterway to passers-by. HSBC also set up a ‘warden system’ whereby volunteers As above, but in locations across Canal and river skills bank England & Wales. regularly walk their stretch of the canal The skills bank provides the opportunity checking for problems and ensuring it Sponsored volunteering for national organisations to match the remains clean. opportunities skills of up to 20 of their employees with the needs of volunteering groups on the Proud all round These are shorter-term projects for companies who are unable to commit canals and rivers. The result of the adoption is that a stretch to a canal adoption. of canal in Birmingham city centre has Sponsorship received the level of care and maintenance Secondments If you’re not able to commit the time we have long wanted to give it, but We can offer secondments throughout of your team, we offer a range of ways to couldn’t afford to. The canal is transformed, our diverse workforce, including policy support your local canal financially. and the local community has a leisure area and strategy, environmental practices, to be proud of.
4 Corporate Adoption Handbook Corporate Adoption Handbook 5 Case Study ‘‘ It’s been brilliant, Marks & I can’t wait Spencer until it’s my turn Swapping beach for canal bank to come again!’’ Marks & Spencer has supported the Joanne Canal & River Trust by expanding its M&S Big Beach Clean-up to include 50 canal locations in England and Wales.
As a result, over 1,000 M&S employees have headed down to their local canal – rather than the beach – to pick litter. In addition, M&S made a financial contribution towards our work to restore, conserve, enhance the nation’s 200 year-old network of waterways.
Litany of litter In 2012, the litter collected from the M&S Big Beach Clean-up included fishing nets, ropes and bottle tops as well as more unusual items including a set of false teeth, half a sofa, a tenpin bowling ball and a carpet. Similar litter picking events have turned up an aircraft propeller and a life size R2D2 dummy! Not only an eyesore, making our canals look neglected and even intimidating, litter can also be hazardous for wildlife.
It’s really satisfying when ‘‘ memebers of the public stop and say what a good job we’re doing Denise ’’ 6 Corporate Adoption Handbook Corporate Adoption Handbook 7 Bassenthwaite Map key
Ullswater What to Canal & River Trust offices TEES NAVIGATION AND BARRAGE Lake District Canal & River Trust Windermere mangaged waterways AINA managed waterways
RIPON do next? CANAL RIVER URE LEEDS & Driffield LIVERPOOL Navigation CANAL RIVER OUSE LANCASTER POCKLINGTON CANAL CANAL RIVER HULL AIRE & CALDER Visit our website canalrivertrust.org.uk to find out more about RIVER Market NAVIGATION DERWENT RIBBLE Weighton LINK Canal opportunities with us. ROCHDALE HUDDERSFIELD SELBY CANAL NEW CANAL BROAD CANAL CALDER JUNCTION & HEBBLE CANAL NAVIGATION River LEEDS & HUDDERSFIELD STAINFORTH & Ancholme Contact the Volunteering Team to LIVERPOOL NARROW CANAL SOUTH YORKSHIRE KEADBY CANAL CANAL NAVIGATION chat about what you’re looking for, and ST HELENS Manchester ASHTON LIVERPOOL LINK Ship Canal Louth (SANKEY) CANAL SHEFFIELD & Navigation CANAL PEAK FOREST TINSLEY CANAL to explore ways we can work together: CANAL Bridgewater Canal FOSSDYKE NAVIGATION CHESTERFIELD WEAVER MACCLESFIELD CANAL [email protected] NAVIGATION CANAL WITHAM RIVER DEE Trent & NAVIGATION MIDDLEWICH Mersey BRANCH Canal TRENT NAVIGATION T: 0303 040 4040 SHROPSHIRE EREWASH UNION CANAL CALDON CANAL CANAL Sleaford NOTTINGHAM & Navigation LLANGOLLEN BEESTON CANAL TRENT & CANAL SHROPSHIRE STAFFS & MERSEY TRENT & GRANTHAM UNION CANAL WORCS CANAL MERSEY CANAL The Broads CANAL CANAL RIVER SOAR River Glen ASHBY River Welland CANAL Old BIRMINGHAM COVENTRY River CANAL CANAL River Nene Nene NAVIGATIONS MONTGOMERY CANAL MARKET Twenty River Wissey STAFFS & HARBOROUGH ARM BIRMINGHAM Foot Sixteen WORCS Foot CANAL & FAZELEY River Little Ouse CANAL Old Bedford OXFORD Middle Level New Ten Mile Ouse River CANAL GRAND UNION CANAL Navigation Bedford LEICESTER LINE River Old West River River Lark STRATFORD-UPON- GRAND River Nene DROITWICH AVON CANAL UNION Ely Ouse CANALS CANAL HATTON WORCESTER & River Cam BIRMINGHAM CANAL River Great Ouse Avon Herefordshire & Navigation Gloucester Canal GRAND RIVER UNION River Stour SEVERN Avon CANAL Navigation MONMOUTHSHIRE & BRECON CANAL OXFORD River Wye CANAL GOVILON AYLESBURY ARM Chelmer & SWANSEA RIVER STORT Blackwater CANAL GLOUCESTER & NAVIGATION Navigation SHARPNESS CANAL WENDOVER ARM River Thames SHARPNESS RIVER LEE NAVIGATION Neath & REGENT’S Tennant DOCKS N.Wilts Canal GRAND UNION CANAL Canal CANAL River BOW BACK RIVERS Thames Wilts & SLOUGH Berks Canal ARM DOCKLANDS River Avon River Thames
KENNET & AVON CANAL River Wey Basingstoke Canal River Medway
Wey & Arun Canal River Parrett
BRIDGWATER & Grand Western Canal TAUNTON CANAL River Arun Bude Canal
Exeter Ship Canal
© Crown copyright and database rights, 2013, Ordnance Survey 100019843. This map includes waterways managed by members of the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities (AINA). 8 Corporate Adoption Handbook There are other inland waterways that have not been included, but can be found on more detailed maps. ‘‘ It has been a great team building exercise, especially for some of our newer members John ’’
@canalrivertrust canalrivertrust.org.uk/adopt [email protected] /canalrivertrust 0303 040 4040 (local rate, during office hours)
© Canal & River Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered
in England & Wales with company number 7807276 and charity number 1146792. 2013 December