volunteeringnews The newsletter for the Volunteer Team December 2013

East Midlands Update

As ever the last couple of months have been a busy time in the East Midlands, a period of great East Midlands Highlights change within our local volunteer team.

New Volunteer Coordinator, Wayne Ball joined  Volunteers have now the team at the end of September and has been contributed over 1600 busy picking up the new role while also going through the CRT induction processes and training. volunteer days this Volunteer Leader, Amanda Morgan was then financial year successful in gaining a promotion to a new position within the national team, starting her new role on The Loughborough University work party at  The Volunteer Keepers the 1st of November. Lock11 on the contributed almost 5000 Scott Miller - who had been supporting the Prince by means of saying thanks for all the hard volunteer hours over the volunteer team over the last few months - has work. therefore been seconded to the Volunteer Leader 2013 season role until at least the end of March 2014. Although the lock keeping season is over, a number of the volunteer team are continuing to  We currently have over Despite all of the changes over the past couple of work through the winter, completing winter checks months we have managed to keep the work and maintenance work parties. A group of volun- 100 individual volunteers flowing, thanks to the hard work and support of teers recently helped to clear some of the ‘set supporting the East our volunteers, partners and staff. aside’ vegetation at Gunthorpe Lock—if you would like to get involved with these work parties Midlands waterway On the 5th October we held a successful please feel free to get in touch. partnership event with Society (GCS) and Loughborough University near Cropwell  We now have 3 active Looking forward we are in the process of Bishop. A total of 42 students plus 5 GCS planning a range of new volunteer opportunities Adoptions by groups in the volunteers, plus Wayne and Amanda attended for the next couple of months including regular the event, clearing over 70m of and re- events with Loughborough University and Towpath East Midlands moving vegetation from the canal bed. Taskforce events across the patch. Other events of note included work parties at We would like to take this opportunity to thank Longore Bridge on the Grantham Canal (working you all for your continued hard work and with GCS to restore the heritage bridge), Thorpe commitment to our waterway. Pudding Dyke Bridge on the Chesterfield— painting the new access bridge, and an event with Please keep your volunteer records coming into us Boston Motor Yacht Club tidying Bardney Lock so we can better highlight the good work along the . delivered in the East Midlands The Lock Keeping season has now come to a close We hope you all enjoy the seasonal festivities for this year following a successful summer for our team. The East Midlands Volunteer Lock Keeper East Midlands Volunteer Team team contributed around 5000 volunteer hours to the waterway over the season and we had an enjoyable end of season event on the Nottingham

Adoptions

Communities have been active on the and Development Association), in rivers of this country for decades, transforming Nottingham () and a section of the our former industrial corridors into heritage havens Nottingham Beeston Canal (both with for people and wildlife. Probation’s Fit 4 Work scheme). Today, building on this passion is vital to the We have also recently had confirmation that a The Fit 4 Work team future of our canals and rivers, and working with further group is interested in adopting a section of receiving lock training in July local people is at the heart of the Canal & River the Erewash Canal. Trust. 2013. If you would like any further information about Local community groups can now adopt sections of Adoptions drop us a line or follow this link to our their local canal and river network for a specified website: period, helping us to enrich their local environment. http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-views/ We have 3 current adoptions in the East Midlands; news/adopt-a-canal Basin (Erewash Canal Preservation &

Page 2 Introduction to our new Volunteer Coordinator

Having been with the Canal & and community initiatives, and ideas of delivering some of River Trust for a little over 2 gaining a total of 16 local and this work in the future. months now, I have managed national awards. to meet many of you but this Having worked with volunteer represents my first opportunity My previous role was working groups in the past and having to properly introduce myself to as Sustainable Landscape been a volunteer myself for the wider volunteer team. Officer for the Sherwood over 2 years I am aware and Forest Trust, a small charity appreciative of how much Since graduating from the that works with partners, hard work and commitment our University of Nottingham, I communities and land owners volunteers put in every day. have gained over 13 years’ to restore Sherwood Forest’s experience of working within heritage landscape. My core We will therefore do our STW VOLUNTEER TEAM the environment and volunteer role was to engage with utmost to ensure that we offer (WAYNE SECOND FROM sectors—including Notts landowners and communities to the same commitment to you RIGHT) County Council, the Forestry promote positive land wherever possible. Commission, Severn Trent management and habitat Water (STW) and the restoration, produce Please feel free to contact me Sherwood Forest Trust (SFT). management plans and if you have any queries or actively deliver management ideas you’d like to see us Welcome Stations While working as a work across the landscape deliver. I look forward to Countryside Ranger for STW I area. meeting you all in the future. The Canal and River Trust has a wide had the opportunity to lead my own team of volunteer I am passionate about Wayne Ball variety of visitor attractions, honeypot rangers and wildlife group protecting and restoring our Volunteer Coordinator sites and community hotspots. across our sites. In 8 years our biodiversity and heritage team were successful in environment—and I will be At 20 key locations across the country achieving many environmental keen to come up with some we’re establishing visitor ‘Welcome Stations’ where volunteers will be at the Towpath Rangers Update centre of our welcome to local canal users. The number of Rangers helping the Trust look after SCHEME (PAP). Michael is using coloured line paint The welcome station volunteers will play our waterways is going from strength to strength, (used to mark out construction sites) to paint each a key role in the enjoyment of the visitor we now have a total of over 20 towpath rangers deposit of dog mess that he comes across. experience and ensuring visitors leave covering , Erewash Canal, with a better understanding and affinity to Nottingham/Beeston Canal, , Grantham This is a scheme which has helped councils to reduce the waterway. Canal, Fossdyke and River Witham. dog mess in other parts of the country by

highlighting regular deposits. The paint helps local In the East Midlands we have set up a Towpath Rangers are usually from the local commu- people to avoid walking in the dog waste and welcome station at Gunthorpe Lock and nity they operate in and are invaluable as an extra makes irresponsible dog owners more mindful that we are developing a second at Trent Lock, the first lock of the Erewash Canal, for the set of eyes and ears on the towpath. As this area of other people are aware of their antisocial activity. upcoming summer season. our volunteering continues to grow we would like to recruit Lead Volunteer Rangers to coordinate our We are soon to supply all Rangers with fully We know many of you love meeting new local Ranger teams and we are also keen to bio-degradable spray paint and launch this across people and sharing your love of the explore the possibility of organising monthly work the East Midlands. waterways – so here is a chance to man a parties to provide physical improvements to our Welcome Station! If this is of interest to local canal and river environments. We are keen to get as much media coverage as we you please contact us. can to make an impact. We have already had One of the initiatives which was proposed and is some coverage in the Times. currently being trialled by Chesterfield Canal Ranger Michael Edwards is our PAINT A POO

Hickling Lengthsman’s Hut

Our partnership project to We have been working with a structural survey with our restore the lengthman’s hut at the Grantham Canal Society, engineers—particularly the Hickling has progressed Hickling Parish Council and brick chimney– before we nicely since our last the local community to help can look to take the work newsletter. protect and restore this further forward. important part of our The sleeper built hut, waterway heritage. Our next step is to source constructed between 1890- funding and support for the 1900, is the only remaining We have had a few project. We will cover this structure of its kind on the meetings to discuss how we project in more detail in the East Midlands Waterway. can take this project forward next newsletter. and we have held two work Unfortunately it is now in a parties to help clear the If you think there is some state of disrepair and in vegetation from around the way you could offer some The Hickling Lenghtsman’s Hut recent years has been almost hut. assistance with this project— in the 1970’s (above) and completely engulfed by skills, knowledge or how it looks today (below) encroaching vegetation. Once the vegetation is clear experience - please get in we will be able to organize touch. Page 3 Volunteer Profile: Bob Sampson

Retirement brings with it many opportunities to At this stage I should introduce myself, enjoy the leisure of life. For some it is a whole " volunteer Bob on duty today" should say it all to change in lifestyle for others it is keeping the many of my colleagues whom I converse with up mind and body active in participating in and down the navigation when on duty. To others, hobbies, extending interests or meeting oh he's that volunteer at pre and post season challenges or lifetime goals. meetings who always has the Questions and

At the start of 2011, thumbing through the Suggestions, well forgive me, but when you have Newark Advertiser, there it was the British frontline Management present its best to seize the Waterways bridge logo as an advertisement opportunity and seek clarification and answers, Volunteer Lock Keeper, for Volunteer Lock keepers on the River Trent. I these are the only occasions when we get Bob Sampson applied and attended an Introduction and Inter- together and they should be used meaningfully. view day at Gunthorpe , followed by all of the essential induction and training. My weekly diary currently takes in my duties as a

District Councillor which can vary enormously Future Projects and A period of two months of pure stimulation depending on what Committees are sitting. I flashed by, April arrived and I started my represent a rural ward and therefore various Opportunities accompanied lock familiarisation shared between Nether and Town locks. Needless to parish council meetings and individual consultations can be fairly spread out but it VLK Winter Events say I was hooked and am now well into my third We will be organizing a season. always gives me the opportunity to meet others range of activities at our lock and listen to their concerns when I am out and sites for our volunteer lock That one opportunity has since led me to about, wind turbines are my headache this year! keepers over the winter becoming involved in so many activities that I am period. These events will be In addition to this I am vice Chairman of our local now as busy if not busier than before I retired. open to all volunteers. Please lawn bowls club, I rehearse and sing in a local How do I fit it all in? Well it’s down to that contact us if this is of interest “Festival Choir”, I attend our local Garden Society magic word " Volunteering " and finding to you. talks and I am a School Governor. organisations and activities that depend and operate on a flexible volunteer basis and allow Boat Painting you to be flexible. Once I have eaten, slept and of course Come along and help us carry undertaken a volunteer lock duty or two there out essential maintenance on I can safely say my diary including weekends is is little time for anything else. I have now escaped our fleet. We have a number always full and it includes everything I derive the "maze" of retirement and on reflection owe it of boats requiring a lick of enjoyment and a sense of purpose from, so its all to the ethos of Volunteering, I get out of it paint at various locations mix and match throughout the year that satisfies what I am prepared to put into it, now that's across the waterway. More keeping the mind and body active satisfaction and enjoyment, my style maybe, but details will follow in the New "in retirement". remember you can tailor it to suit yourself, Year. because that's what Volunteering is all about!! VLK Summer Roles Cranfleet and Sawley Locks are both busy sites for leisure IWA Partnership Events boaters. Many users welcome a hand through the locks, Over the late summer period we have held would you like to get involved two successful partnership events with the In- at weekends for a few hours? land Waterways Association (IWA). Register your interest with us – all training, uniform & The first event was held in August and aimed equipment will be provided. to help reduce the dominance of Himalayan Volunteers working on the Bolin balsam in an area close to the Nottingham Expenses Beeston Canal. Work involved hand pulling The event was heavily supported by Alison

this invasive, non-native species to provide Smedley (Regional Coordinator –IWA) along Unfortunately we have opportunities for native plant species. with over 20 volunteers from both CART and encountered a number of IWA. difficulties in processing your The second event took place on Saturday 21st expense claims over the last September with Staff and Volunteers from The event received a positive review on the couple of months which has led to both CART and the IWA, who all had a World website: some delays in payments.

fantastic day cleaning up the canal from http://narrowboatworld.com/index.php/leate We sincerely apologise for these Beeston Lock to Castle Lock in Nottingham. st/6240-objects-galore delays, we have worked to create new systems and robust processes This was the first event of its kind in the East Thanks to the success of this event we are at a local level to eliminate these Midlands, using the work boat Bolin to planning bigger and better events in 2014. issues in the future. The national facilitate removal of flytipped waste from the Thanks to everyone involved. team are also looking into developing an online system for navigation. next year.

Some of you will have met us before, but for those of you who do not know us, we are the East Midlands volunteer team

East Midlands Volunteer Team We are always happy to help where we can, and provide information and advice – so do get in touch if you need anything! Canal & River Trust The Kiln Mather Road Wayne Ball (Volunteer Coordinator) Newark Mobile: 07766 577947 NG24 1FB [email protected]

Phone: 01636 675704

Scott Miller (Volunteer Leader) Mobile: 07717 802541 [email protected] Please remember to submit your expenses on a regular basis to us – and your time record is just as important. Thank you for every contribution you make – we really do value it! Upcoming Activities

Lock Taskforce Event at Hazelford Lock Staff Profile: Sarina Young Friday 27th December 2013 (10am-4pm) Customer Services Co-ordinator Lock Taskforce Event at Hazelford Lock Tuesday 7th January 2014 (10am-4pm) Brief description of job role and tasks I’m responsible for our national contact centre, Lock Taskforce Event at Nether Lock otherwise referred to as ‘Customer Services’, where Thursday 16th January 2014 (10am-4pm) the majority of our customer calls and e-mails are Lock Taskforce Event at Stoke Lock responded to. I’m also responsible for administering Thursday 23rd January 2014 (10am-4pm) our complaints procedure and have regained responsibility for compliance with the Freedom of Chesterfield Canal Rangers Events information Act 2000, Environmental Information A range of regular (monthly) activities supported Regulations 2004 and requests made under the by the Chesterfield Rangers—Wednesdays or Sundays. Please contact us if you would like any Data Protection Act 1998. further information.

Volunteering experiences and how you see volunteering fitting in with Lock Stoppage CRT? 13th January 2014 (for 4 weeks) Volunteer support required to help with site I have three horses now but, when I was younger I wasn’t so lucky. I spent inductions for this lock stoppage. Contact us for most of my childhood begging, borrowing and stealing (well, not quite) any more details. time I could with the horses at the local riding school. I went on to teach regular lessons, on a voluntary basis, at the riding school which was also a Sandiacre Lock Open Day registered branch of the Riding for the Disabled charity. So, my past Sunday 26th January 2014 (10am-4pm) Come along and venture into the drained lock weekends, evenings and holidays have been dedicated to teaching and chamber and talk to Canal & River Trust experts helping children and adults, disabled and able-bodied, learn to ride and, about how we carry out lock maintenance. more generally, to just look after horses. It’s been a truly fantastic experience Erewash Canal, Lock Lane, NG10 5LA and I think it’s fair to say that being able to put my skills and experience to EM Volunteer Forum Meeting great use, enriching the lives of people who haven’t had the same Wed 5th February 2014 opportunities I have is good for my soul! It makes me a better, more Retford and Boat Club contented, person. (please book—limited numbers) I believe that it’s absolutely critical for us to engage with our volunteers (both potential and current) in the right way, now and in the future. I speak to so Holme Lock Stoppage 17th February 2014 (for 4 weeks) many customers every year and it always amazes me how knowledgeable Volunteer support is required to help with site and passionate they are about what we do. To carry the momentum of the inductions for this stoppage. Contact us for more Trust into its rightful future we need strong and sustained support for our details. cause. I can see no better way for people to show their passion, pride and Please let us know if you’re interested in support than to volunteer. I also think that my colleagues and I can learn so coming along to any of the events so we can much from those who volunteer at the Trust. It’s definitely a win-win situation. I account for numbers. more events are listed think you’re inspirational…so, thank you! on our website: http://canalrivertrust.org.uk