Volunteering: Find an Opportunity

Aire Action Leeds Community Engagement Volunteer We are looking for an enthusiastic, creative and committed volunteer to engage local people with their waterway through a variety of events and activities.
This is a British Waterways volunteer placement opportunity in partnership with Aire Action Leeds, and other partners, based in Leeds.
We want you to be able to develop this role to suit your skills and interests. You will work to identify and engage with key community groups and statutory organisations to help deliver the aims of Aire Action Leeds and help make Leeds water corridor a more vibrant and desirable place to be.
On a day to day basis you could be responsible for developing and organising a wide range of volunteer and community engagement projects. These may involve events and activities such as vegetation conservation work, habitat management and green space projects.
You will get the opportunity to plan and deliver innovative community consultation and taster activities to encourage people to visit their local waterways to enjoy the heritage, environment, health and well being offer.
To broaden your experience you will also assist the Aire Action Leeds Project Officer on a range of other projects in Leeds.
You will also be tasked with exploring opportunities to bring external funding which provides a sustainable future for the project and enhances the range of activities taking place on the water corridor in Leeds.
Opportunities Available:
Interpretation and promotion, practical, recording and monitoring, customer service, management and supervision
What's in it for you: This is a great opportunity to gain lots of practical experience in working
July 2011
the volunteer
with community groups, local businesses and third sector organisations. We will also provide training to help build your skills base, both within Aire Action Leeds, British Waterways and through external providers.
At the end of this placement you will have a strong set of skills and experience to aid employability and help you find work in any of the following fields; regeneration, environment, heritage, health, social & community work.
Key Skills Required: We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed individual who is keen to make a difference for local people. Whilst a degree or previous experience in a related area would be useful, willingness to have a go and be involved is the most important qualification.
You will be based at British Waterways offices in Leeds but be expected to travel around Leeds water corridor (appropriate expenses will be paid). Some evening and weekend commitment may be required.
Training Offered: We will do a training plan with you looking at through providers such as the Environmental Trainers Network.
Nearest waterway: River Aire, Leeds & surrounding areas
Email: rachel.clunas@aireactionleeds.org.uk

Anderton Boat Lift Volunteer How about learning all about the Cathedral of the Canals so you can help run guided walks, man the information desk or get stuck into some gardening.
Anderton Boat lift just outside Northwich in Cheshire links the River Weaver to the Trent and Mersey Canal using a truly amazing piece of Victorian engineering.
The visitor centre and grounds offers that chance to help out as part of the team ensuring the many thousands of visitors each year have a great time.
Opportunities Available:
Interpretation and promotion, practical, customer service, management and supervision
What's in it for you: You will be part of a fun loving team gaining great experience of how a busy visitor centre operates.
Key Skills Required: You need to be happy working with people both the public other volunteers and staff.
Training Offered: In house training relevant to the role.
Nearest waterway: North Wales and Boaders
Email: Lucy.Bowles@Britishwaterways.co.uk
Website: www.andertonboatlift.co.uk/

British Waterways - Archives Angel The Waterways Archive collects, preserves and makes publicly available records relating to our inland waterways. These include plans, drawings, accounts, photographs and letters. At the core of the collection are the archives of British Waterways and the early canal companies, which trace the history of BritainÃ¢ï¿½ï¿½s inland waterways back to its very roots in the 17th century.
Opportunities Available:
Recording and monitoring
What's in it for you: This is an opportunity to gain valuable experience working with the archive assistant on a range of aspects associated with the archives of National Waterways Museum Collection.
Key Skills Required: Good organisational skills and a proactive approach are key to this role whilst a general interest in history and some knowledge of the history of canals is desirable but not essential.

This role involves some light lifting and carrying so requires some physical fitness.
Training Offered: Role specific training will be given.
Nearest waterway: Shropshire Union
Email: emma.wright@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk
Website: www.waterwaysactionsquad.com

British Waterways - Assistant Volunteer Task Leader, North East We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed individual to help us engage more volunteers in practical activities on the waterways and offer training and development to other volunteers who want to make this happen.
This role will involve working alongside our Volunteer Task Leader to assist in preparing, promoting, leading and delivering practical volunteering tasks. This could involve improving wildlife habitats, carrying out heritage conservation tasks, litter picking or painting.
You will gain experience in the preparation of key health and safety documentation required to carry out practical volunteer tasks on the waterways. This is a great opportunity to gain lots of practical experience and develop your leadership skills whilst exploring your local waterways and making a difference to both people and wildlife.
Opportunities Available:
Practical, customer service, management and supervision
What's in it for you: Through this role you will gain a strong set of skills and experience, ideal for those looking to gain practical work experience and increase their employability, or those keen to put existing skills to good use.
You will get to explore your local waterways and meet lots of new people from a wide range of backgrounds.
Key Skills Required: Good understanding of site safety.
Practical skills and ideally previous experience of practical conservation and/or heritage conservation.
Ability and willingness to communicate with a wide variety of people.
Be a quick thinker whoÃ�ï¿½Ã�Â¢Ã�Â¯Ã�Â¿Ã�Â½Ã�Â¯Ã�Â¿Ã�Â½s able to make decisions.
Good team player who enjoys seeing a job done well.
Good IT skills and previous experience with Microsoft Office packages.
This role will involve frequent travel throughout the North / West / South Yorkshire area; therefore use of a car would be an advantage
Training Offered: All training as required to carry out the role, to be discussed at induction.
Nearest waterway: Various across our North East waterways, you may prefer to stay local or venture further afield
Email: cassie.weaver@britishwaterways.co.uk

British Waterways - Booking Office Assistant The Anderton Boat Lift is a busy tourist attraction which sees coach tours and school parties visiting on a very regular basis. Help is needed in the booking office and there is opportunity to be involved with all aspects of this busy office including answering the telephone, making bookings, mail outs, and designing leaflets. The office is friendly and volunteers would be in a supportive environment where there is opportunity to undertake larger projects if and when they feel ready.
Opportunities Available:
Customer service
What's in it for you: The office is friendly and volunteers would be in a supportive environment where there is opportunity to undertake larger projects if and when they feel ready
Key Skills Required: No experience is necessary. Good communication and IT skills would help although we are willing to help you improve.
Training Offered: There is the opportunity to undertake first aid training and we can offer training on computer skills if necessary. All volunteers are eligible for accreditation from v, the youth volunteering charity and there is the opportunity to undertake the Youth Achievement Awards.
Nearest waterway: Rochdale
Email: emma.wright@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk
Website: www.waterwaysactionsquad.com

British Waterways - Contracts & Volunteering Assistant Volunteer Our busy team in the North East have a great opportunity for someone wanting to assist them in ensuring the delivery of high quality work on their waterways.
You would be an important member of the team working closely with the volunteer leader and contracts manager to plan, prepare, monitor and assist with the day to day smooth running of activities across the North East waterway unit delivered through either volunteer or contractor activity. This would involve all aspects of project planning and on the ground delivery of tasks.
This is a great way for someone to put existing skills to good use and keep up to date with the latest volunteering and contractual developments, or for a recent graduate to gain valuable practical experience in a busy work environment.
This role is based from our Leeds office and may include travel to a range of waterways across the North East.
Opportunities Available:
Recording and monitoring, management and supervision
What's in it for you: You will gain valuable experience in the preparation, planning, delivery and monitoring of a wide range activities required to keep our waterways open, accessible and safe for all.
You will have the chance to make a real difference to the team, being an important member of it, and will be joining us at a very exciting and dynamic time as we take the journey from the public sector to becoming a third sector organisation.
There will be the opportunity for frequent site visits and you will gain an in depth knowledge of our customer base, local canals, rivers and the communities they pass through.
Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses will be provided along with any equipment and appropriate training required to carry out the role. As a volunteer you will be able to ask us for references should you wish.
Key Skills Required: Good organisational skills and attention to detail are required as you will be involved in processing documentation and orders, writing work specifications, data input and planning of work diaries.
Experience of Microsoft Office, including; Word, Outlook, Powerpoint, Excel and Access.
Good communication skills through all mediums, including face to face, over the phone, by email & letter, etc.
Training Offered: Any necessary training as required to carry out the role. This will be discussed at your induction.
Nearest waterway: Various across North East, office located near Clarence Dock on the Aire & Calder Navigation
Email: cassie.weaver@britishwaterways.co.uk

British Waterways - Customer Service Superstar Our busy British Waterways office in Northwich is in need of a volunteer over the summer months to help things run smoothly and give our customers a good standard of service. British Waterways is the organisation that cares for 2,200 miles of the country's canals and rivers and licenses thousands of boats every year. As a volunteer you'll be situated at the front desk and be the first point of contact for our visitors so you'll need to have good communication skills and a winning smile. You will be responsible for dealing with enquiries face-to-face and over the phone which will include boaters' booking passages through locks and licensing enquiries. You will also help visitors sign in, manage the enquiries email inbox and undertake a range of administrative duties.
Opportunities Available:
Customer service
What's in it for you: This is an excellent opportunities to gain reception, customer service and administrative experience and develop useful skills.
Key Skills Required: You will need to be a competent IT user and you should feel confident enough to answer the telephone.
Training Offered: Role specific training.
We can enrol you on an ECDL (European Computer Driving License) course or similar.
Nearest waterway: Trent and Mersey
Email: emma.wright@thewaterwaystrust.co.uk
Website: www.waterwaysactionsquad.com

British Waterways - Engineering Team Assistant (MOSS Volunteer) We are looking for a volunteer to review, collate and transfer electronic data files from our CCTV culvert surveys on behalf of the Engineering Survey team.
This role will be predominantly office based, however, there may be the opportunity to carry out further culvert related work on site, including attending site inspections and review and input of inspection reports into SAP.
You will liaise with local Engineers on regular basis for advice and guidance and regularly report back on progress.
Opportunities Available:
Recording and monitoring
What's in it for you: Through this role you will practice and develop further your experience in data handling.
From being a part of this busy team you will pick up a valuable insight into the world of Engineering Surveys and the behind the scenes work that is invaluable in keeping the waterways working.
Gain a greater understanding and Ã¢ï¿½ï¿½on the jobÃ¢ï¿½ï¿½ experience of IT management systems and archiving and a valuable insight into the engineering infrastructure of a national organisation, particularly focussing on culverts and other confined spaces work.
Key Skills Required: We are looking for someone who has experience of using Microsoft Office and confidence in using computers, alongside administration and data handling experience.
You should be self-motivated and able to work on your own for periods of time, with the willingness to report back to the team and update on progress/request further information as appropriate
Training Offered: All appropriate training as identified in our Minimum Safety Learning Standards and relevant to the task.
A full induction will be provided to introduce you to British Waterways and the work you shall be involved in.
Nearest waterway: Aire & Calder Navigation
Email: cassie.weaver@britishwaterways.co.uk

British Waterways - Enterprise Assistant (North East) It is increasingly recognised and accepted that waterways can help to kick start regeneration and boost the renewal of neighbourhoods. They can contribute to social inclusion and help make possible many forms of outdoor recreation and community interaction.
In order to make these things happen British Waterways need to unlock resources and Enterprise Managers are tasked to identify, attract and secure third party funding which will help support this broad range of activity. In addition to this they ensure that funds secured deliver priorities as identified for each individual canal and work closely with Waterway Managers and Engineers.
The role of a Volunteer Enterprise Assistant will help the Enterprise Manager in:
-Research and identification of appropriate funding sources.
-Development of funding packages for relevant projects, programmes and initiatives as set out in the British Waterways Enterprise business plan.
-Preparation and submission of grant applications.
-Establishment of partnerships and management of relationships with the private, public and voluntary sectors which will secure funding opportunities.
The Volunteer Enterprise Assistant will also be expected to represent the Enterprise Manager at stakeholder and partnership meeting.
This role will be based in Leeds with the opportunity for frequent travel to various sites across the North East.
For more info or to apply for this role please send a cover letter detailing your motivation to carry out the role, along with any skills and experience you may have, along with a copy of your CV to cassie.weaver@britishwaterways.co.uk.
CLOSING DATE: FRI 23RD DECEMBER
Opportunities Available:
Interpretation and promotion, recording and monitoring, customer service, management and supervision
What's in it for you: This is a great opportunity to gain lots of practical experience in working with private, public and voluntary organisations.
At the end of this placement you will have a strong set of skills and experience to aid employability and help you find work in any of the following fields; regeneration, environment, heritage, social and community work.
Key Skills Required: We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed individual who is keen to make a real difference to the waterways and the local people they serve.
A degree or previous experience within the field of Regeneration would be useful for this position; or experience in writing funding bids, however it is more important that you are good and confident communicator with well developed research and writing skills.
You will be based at British Waterways offices in Leeds or a local Council Office by arrangement but be expected to travel along the specified waterways as required for which appropriate expenses will be paid. You will need access to a vehicle as some locations are remote and difficult to access by public transport.
Some evening and weekend commitment may also be required.
Access to a vehicle.
Training Offered: All necessary training as appropriate to the role.
Nearest waterway: Aire & Calder Navigation / Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Email: cassie.weaver@britishwaterways.co.uk

British Waterways - Environment Assistant - Gloucester British Waterways is the organisation that cares for 2,200 miles of the country's canals and rivers.
Rich in heritage, abundant in wildlife and alive with culture, inland waterways are as popular today as they've ever been. This is an exciting opportunity to play an active role in monitoring and managing the rich environment of canals and rivers in the Gloucester and surrounding area.
This role will offer support to Environment Operations team including activities such as:

Assist with the initial application of the environmental appraisal processes

Data input and management especially into the British Waterways biological recording and Biodiversity Action Plan databases, plus processing inspection / monitoring data

Assist with planning of works and assisting with the works on site (vegetation management, litter clearance, removing invasive species, installing new habitat features);

Production of documentation (writing up site notes, first draft of reports, training materials);
Support to site work / surveys including site inspections; sediment and water quality sampling / monitoring; ecological surveys;

Gloucester Office base but you will be able and willing to travel around the network from Birmingham to South Wales.

Please send a CV to Lucy.Bowles@Britishwaterways,.co.uk or call Lucy 07824327274 by August 4th 2011. Informal interviews will be carried out on August 17th.
Opportunities Available:
Practical, recording and monitoring, management and supervision
What's in it for you: Developing practical and office-based environmental management skills (would suit a recent graduate looking for experience).
Be part of a growing number of volunteers contributing to the positive management of the nation's waterways.
Key Skills Required: Basic IT skills such as Microsoft Office packages and internet Basic understanding of environmental management disciplines such as ecology
Training Offered: Induction training and support, inc internal films Manual Handling, Working near water,
Fire Water and Save life training where applicable
Travel expenses
Nearest waterway: Gloucester and Sharpness Canal
Email: Lucy.Bowles@Britishwaterways.co.uk

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