The awards, made with the Marsh Charitable Trust, recognise teams and individuals across our 250-year-old navigable network.
A great success story
Volunteering has been one of our great success stories since our formation in 2012, with around 5,500 people now regularly volunteering their time and contributing nearly three-quarters of a million volunteer hours in the past financial year to help keep the canals open for the benefit of boaters and local communities.
Reflecting this growth and the diversity of opportunities, the awards now include volunteering across our national teams, in addition to the existing regional categories. The Marsh Charitable Trust has supported these awards since 2015, with the awards growing from 12 to 28 in total, recognising the growing impact of our amazing volunteers.
Playing a vital role
This year’s recipients range from a volunteer who started volunteering with his dad as a lock keeper at 16, to volunteers who have been with us for over a decade devoting thousands of hours of their time. The awards reflect the diversity of volunteering that helps us keep the waterways alive and thriving.
Volunteers play a vital part in caring for and improving stretches of canal across the network. This year, award recipients include volunteers on the Wolverhampton flight of 21 locks, who have worked tirelessly season after season to overcome and keep on top of graffiti, fly tipping and anti-social behaviour; the Kidlington Towpath Taskforce, whose environmental focus and collaboration with regional partners has enhanced canal habitats and connectivity, and included practical improvements like signage, benches, and lock maintenance; and a lead volunteer who has overseen the painting of all 21 locks on the Leicester Line, alongside numerous other enhancements to the canal corridor.
The waterways – and canal volunteering – are for everyone. This is exemplified by Tracey Clarke, founder and current chair of the Accessible Waterways Association, who strives to improve both our processes and on-the-ground accessibility improvements so more people can use and enjoy the canals, on or off the water. Tracey has been recognised in the new National Team category.
A long and proud history
Christine Mellor, our head of volunteering, said: “Volunteering on the waterways has long and proud history, and now the Canal & River Trust is part of that story, with a revolution in volunteering since our charity was formed in 2012. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of our canals. We simply couldn’t keep these precious waterways alive and offering so much to boaters, and all those communities they run through, without their passion, energy and commitment. Whether they’re helping boaters through locks, restoring heritage structures or lending a hand during floods, their impact is huge.
“Our 250-year-old canal network needs this support now more than ever. Volunteering with us is flexible, fun and rewarding, and it’s a brilliant way to meet new people, learn new skills and make a real difference to your local area. There’s something for everyone, and we’d love you to join our amazing volunteers in making such a difference.”
Brian Marsh OBE, chairman at the Marsh Charitable Trust, said: “We are pleased to be able to work with the Canal & River Trust once again to deliver these Awards, recognising those who give their time to volunteer on our nation’s waterways, enhancing their heritage and supporting the wellbeing of those that use them. We would like to congratulate the individuals and volunteer teams who have been recognised through this year’s Awards, from all across the UK, and we look forward to continuing to highlight these invaluable contributions in years to come.”
The awards
Award ceremonies took place in each of our six regions and online during October. There are awards for Volunteer of the Year, Volunteer Team of the Year, Lead Volunteer of the Year, and Young Volunteer of the Year. The Awards are open to all Trust volunteers.
