What's in it for You
Everybody gets something different from their volunteering experience. Here are some views of people who currently volunteer with us, or have done recently
Liz saw new places, made a difference and filled some spare time
Volunteering, in my experience, is a valuable way of filling an hour or two
with something useful. I have been able to become involved in an area of
Yorkshire that I didn't know very well, and learn about some of the local history and characters as well as meeting new people.
The best part about being a volunteer for me is that what I do can make a difference.
British Waterways Volunteer Events' Coordinator - Standedge Visitor Centre
Adam learnt and enjoyed himself a lot as well as getting experience for his CV
After completing my MSc in Environmental Engineering and Sustainable Development at Imperial College London,
I had a few months spare before starting a graduate scheme with a utility company.
I have been working with British Waterways' engineering team to map where waste and storm water is discharged
into the Brent Feeder and Grand Union Canal in London.
The work has been a lot more interesting and useful than I had imagined a voluntary scheme
to be and I've been treated really professionally.
I've been able to work independently but with the advantage of interacting with teams across British Waterways,
including the GIS and property teams.
British Waterways Volunteer Engineer - British Waterways London office
Joan goes boating and introduces young people to waterways heritage I have helped with the working boats in the midlands since 2002 and for quite a while have been the Editor of our newsletter. I love to be on boat moves, this is my favourite activity with the project and my reason for joining. Being on a move is good because that is when we can really be ourselves and there is a lot of banter usually going on. It is good to watch a new volunteer go from being a complete beginner to gaining the confidence to be a really useful member of the team.
Open days and public events can be great fun, it is often a chance to catch up with other boat groups and some British Waterways staff to have a good natter. This especially includes introducing twenty-first century children to life as it used to be on the canals in the middle part of the twentieth century, so different to anything they may have experienced before.
Altogether being part of the HWBG is great fun and very satisfying.