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We’re the charity making life better by water

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CAVALCADE

CAVALCADE

Some 250 years ago, great engineers achieved feats never seen before – taking water up hills, across valleys and powering the industrial age. And today our canals are busier than ever.

Keeping those 2,000 miles of waterways, 2,980 bridges, 1,580 locks and 335 aqueducts open to navigation is central to our work. But there’s more to the Canal & River Trust than that. Meet some of the people making everyone’s life better by water...

Ranger: Jamal

Jones-Thomas

Fundraiser: Linzi

Macdonald

I’m a volunteer with Canal & River Trust. Volunteering is crucial to making life better by water and I am one of hundreds of individuals across London & South East region who give their free time regularly to the Trust. As well as litter picking and leading guided walks I also recently presented a series of “virtual open day” films for our website, showcasing the rich history and engineering heritage of the Grand Union Canal. I’ve been able to use my professional background in broadcasting to bring the work done by our charity to a wider audience.

As a London mooring ranger I’ve been lucky enough to call the canal towpath my “office” since 2015. I work day-to-day with boaters. There are twice as many boats on the canals around London & South East as there were 10 years ago, so we all have to share the space in a considerate way. For me that means checking boats are moored safely and responsibly. But it can also involve being a kind of “canal social worker” – assisting vulnerable boaters or rough sleepers, working with local councils to tackle antisocial behaviour – as well as jobs like putting up signs. I love it.

I’m the business and corporate engagement partner for London & South East and I match businesses who want to give back to their local community to volunteering opportunities. Corporate volunteering days are an income stream for our charity, so we can focus scarce funds on maintaining our fragile infrastructure, but also to get some of that work done. Sometimes that might be something on land such as clearing vegetation or it could be a water-based activity such as a “paddle and pick” litter blitz from canoes. I’m proud of the work we do to transform places and enrich lives.

Volunteer

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