Awards celebrate volunteers on the waterways

THE Canal & River Trust, together with Marsh Charitable Trust, are pleased to announce those who have been recognised in the national canal charity’s annual volunteer awards.

Recognition has been given to teams and individuals across the Canal & River Trust’s 250 years old navigable network and reflect the diversity of achievements made to keep these waterways open and alive.

The awards

There are awards for Volunteer of the Year, Volunteer Team of the Year, Lead Volunteer of the Year, and Young Volunteer of the Year. The Awards are held in each of the Trust’s six regions and are open to all Trust volunteers across regional and national teams.

Recipients include volunteer lock keepers; Towpath Taskforce teams who have transformed their local areas; education volunteers who have taught thousands of children about water safety; volunteers who have been instrumental in the charity’s response to floods; a team who has led on tackling overgrown vegetation and another that has delivered wildlife improvements.

Couldn't keep navigable without them

Christine Mellor, head of volunteering at Canal & River Trust, commented:

“Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do, and I’d like to thank everyone who’s chosen to give their time volunteering on the canals.

“We simply couldn’t keep our waterways navigable and alive without the incredible dedication, enthusiasm, and skills of our volunteers. They play a huge part in protecting these vital spaces, whether by getting stuck into practical work, helping boaters through locks, inspiring the next generation of canal supporters, and even providing invaluable assistance during our response to flooding brought about by climate change. It’s amazing to see what we can achieve together, and it really shows how canals can bring people and communities together.

“Our canal network is 250 years old and needs this support now more than ever, and we’d love to welcome more people to join us. Volunteering with the Canal & River Trust is flexible, fun, and a wonderful way to learn new skills, meet new friends, and make a real difference. If you’ve ever thought about giving it a go, come along to one of our participatory welcome sessions. There’s something for everyone, and we’d love to have you on board to help us keep our wonderful canals open and alive.”

Recognising those who give time

Brian Marsh OBE, chairman at the Marsh Charitable Trust, explained:

“We are pleased to be able to work with the Canal & River Trust once again to deliver these Awards, recognising those who give their time to volunteer on our nation’s waterways, enhancing their heritage and supporting the wellbeing of those that use them. We would like to congratulate the individuals and volunteer teams who have been recognised through this year’s Awards, from all across the UK, and we look forward to continuing to highlight these invaluable contributions in years to come.”

Award ceremonies took place in each of the Canal & River Trust’s six regions during October.