Hear directly from some of our young volunteers, leaders, apprentices and participants about how they've benefited from being involved with us and our projects.
Meet Ghaith
Ghaith (pictured top) is one of a group of eight students who took part in a once a week day release programme with us over winter 2019-20.
During the programme, the group visited Canary Wharf, Little Venice and the Institute of Civil Engineering. Activities included canoeing as a team bonding exercise, boat trips on the River Lee, attending a workshop on bridge building skills, exploring the mechanical engineering involved in lock gates, and taking part in a virtual reality tour of civil engineering structures.
Ghaith found the experience useful and says he now has the confidence to study further and a clear idea of the career path he wants to take.
It’s good that our generation look after their mental health, You go to the canal to let nature talk to you. Your phone isn’t reality. It won’t let you feel the wind in your face.
Ghaith, placement participant
He also spoke about how much he enjoyed being by the water and how positive it is that young people are open about their need for some peace and calm in their lives.
As a sports degree student, Hazel, 20, was introduced to canoeing through college. She had coached children in sports on land, but discovered that she really enjoyed being out on the water.
In 2018 Hazel joined us as a volunteer and we arranged a course for her to become a Paddlesport Instructor. She helped to develop a #ThisGirlCan canoe club in Wigan, based along our coast-to-coast canoe trail.
In 2019 Hazel worked with a team of Young Leaders to plan and deliver a coast-to-coast canoeing relay and festival in Blackburn. Our Young Leaders take on more responsibility for a project, working alongside our colleagues to help plan and deliver activities.
Since then she's also worked as a canoe instructor for students from Wigan colleges.
“Over my time volunteering with the Canal & River Trust, I've become more confident with everything I do and say,” said Hazel. “I've found where I belong and become better at receiving feedback, more creative with coaching ideas and feel a lot calmer dealing with challenges.”
Over my time volunteering with the Canal & River Trust, I’ve become more confident with everything I do and say. I’ve found where I belong.
Hazel, Young Leader
Meet Louis
Louis, 25, originally joined us as a young volunteer in 2013. Since then he has taken on various roles regionally and nationally, including delivering youth engagement training across our organisation to help colleagues build confidence in working with young people.
In 2019 he became Chair of our Youth Advisory Group and from there joined the Trust's Council and London & South East Regional Advisory Board.
“My ever-growing relationship with the Canal & River Trust is genuinely one to cherish,” said Louis. “When I reflect on the fact that in the first 20 years of my life I don't think I had ever been to a canal, who would have thought that today I would be actively seeking and creating ways to guide youth and communities towards a life around the waterways. This journey has been tremendous.
My ever-growing relationship with the Canal & River Trust is genuinely one to cherish. This journey has been tremendous.
Louis, Chair of our Youth Advisory Group
“Personally, I am driven to help people appreciate how significant of a community asset canals and rivers are. They are an amazing resource that we can make use of in our daily lives. Professionally, I have learned massive amounts about how a large charity that has such large amounts of responsibility goes about fulfilling its expectations and improves year on year.
“All of this has contributed to my own personal and professional development as I progress the businesses I run and charities I volunteer with.”
Enjoy the water safely
If you've been inspired by some of the experiences you've read about, we want you to feel confident when visiting your local canal and make safe choices around water, all year round.
Water may look safe, especially a familiar stretch local to you, but poor decisions around it can create a dangerous situation.
Make sure you read our advice on keeping yourself and your friends safe by water.
