The Brightwork Project is funded by the BIG Lottery Fund – Reaching Communities programme and seeks to connect as many people as possible to the varied opportunities along the canal and river network in their local area.
The project is aimed at:
- Volunteers, who want to help maintain the canal network, relax and reconnect with themselves and the environment.
- Volunteers seeking a training opportunity which may improve their job prospects.
- People in recovery from mental ill health, substance misuse issues or just struggling to cope with the stresses and strains of everyday life and who are seeking the restorative benefits of outdoor spaces.
Brightwork Project Officer Andy Wild, said: “The Brightwork Project will reach out to those who have yet to discover the benefits of living close to this readily accessible waterways treasure. I will work closely with local residents and community groups to develop volunteering and training opportunities which will improve lives and increase individual job prospects, whilst improving the environmental amenity of the canal corridor through the Blackburn, Hyndburn, Burnley and Pendle districts.
“The new project will also forge partnerships with local health and well-being services to demonstrate the benefits of outdoor spaces and activities, broadly known as ecotherapy, in aiding individual recovery.”
The project will organise a series of ‘Towpath Taskforces' for volunteers where they will be involved in activities such as keeping the towpath clean, vegetation management and general maintenance.
If you want to find out more about the project, please contact Andy Wild, Brightwork Project Officer on 07717 480777 or email [email protected]
