Giving their time

A VOLUNTEERING programme for young people in the North West—Waterways Action Squad—has celebrated the achievements of over 900 young people who have given their time as part of the two years waterway volunteering project.

Run by The Waterways Trust and British Waterways, the Waterways Action Squad, we are told, has been tremendously successful in creating almost 60% more volunteering opportunities than the 570 initially targeted. Over the past two years, it has filled over 900 opportunities by young people aged 16 to 25.

Wide spectrum

Funded by V, the national young volunteers service, and the Bank of America, the project has provided a wide spectrum of volunteering opportunities ranging from physical work on the canal bank to office-based waterway roles including marketing, interpretation and customer services.

The  key aims of the project, which came to an end in June 2011, were to develop a Youth Involvement Strategy for the waterways and to improve young people's attitudes to them. Waterways Action Squad has been instrumental in positively changing perceptions, both amongst waterways users and amongst young people themselves, and the efforts of the volunteers have had a real impact on waterways across the North West.

Tasks

As well as undertaking practical tasks like scrub-clearance, hedge-laying, habitat improvement, towpath maintenance, canal clean-ups, helping to conserve historic structures, monitoring and surveying wildlife and heritage, young volunteers have also taken on customer service roles along the waterways and at the National Waterways Museum, leading walks and tours round the museum as well as doing general admin tasks, and have organised events to promote the waterways, including a festival celebrating Rolt's centenary last summer.

Waterways Action Squad Project Manager Lucie Unsworth is taking on the role of national youth engagement manager, and enthused:

"The young people who take part in Waterways Action Squad are truly inspiring. They have transformed the traditional image of waterways volunteering and their creativity, dedication and enthusiasm has brought a wide range of benefits to both the waterways in the North West and to the communities around them.

"Giving young people ownership of waterways projects has opened up the waterways to a whole new audience, as well as building the confidence and skills of the volunteers."

The next phase of Waterways Action Squad will engage 16 to 19 year olds who are not in education, employment or training in six month volunteering and social action projects within The Waterways Trust and British Waterways.