Five managers for volunteers

Published: Monday, 08 November 2010

BRITISH Waterways has appointed five new managers to implement a training program for volunteers, ahead of its move into the 'charitable sector'.

Over the past six months British Waterways has recruited its team of 'volunteer leaders to liaise with partner groups and manage the many enthusiasts volunteering across the waterways. The dedicated resource allows volunteers to have closer contact with British Waterways staff in a much broader range of locations and roles and gives greater scope to develop both new and existing projects'.

Training and communications programme

We are told:

'The organisation will be implementing a company-wide training and communications programme over the next six months to increase awareness of the importance of volunteers to the canal network and the opportunities that the waterways provide to volunteers.

As more British Waterways staff than ever are working closely with volunteers—from community canal wardens to web developers and even a lawyer—the organisation will be running in-depth volunteer management training to ensure both staff and volunteers are confident in the relationship'.

'Exciting time'

Nigel Johnson, Corporate Services Director at BW, explained:

"This is a really exciting time for British Waterways and our volunteers, who will have a greater role than ever in the running of their local canal or river. With our goal of forming a new ‘national trust' for the waterways ratified by government, this offers a window on to the future of how we can work with volunteers as a charity, and the changing and expanding nature of volunteering across our canals and rivers.

"As we grow as a volunteering organisation we want to ensure that our staff and volunteers work side by side to achieve the best possible results for British Waterways and for themselves."