Volunteering features and articles

• 

  Meet Lara from Wigan

  29 January 2020

  Thanks to volunteering with us, Lara is now realising two dreams.

• 

  Meet Bernard from Burnley

  28 January 2020

  When Bernard suffered from depression, he turned to volunteering and now wants to share his story.

• 

  Thelma at the helm

  16 September 2019

  Thelma Edwards is a greeter for the 5,000 visitors who step aboard The Admiral floating visitor centre each year. She relishes her role as storyteller, bringing to life the inspiring tale of the Kennet & Avon Canal.

• 

  Meet Mike, volunteering at Dundas Wharf

  16 April 2019

  A 10-year labour of love is nearing its end for volunteer Mike Rogers, who has been restoring the historic crane at Dundas Wharf on the Kennet & Avon Canal. His work will be finished in the next few weeks and the crane will stand proudly in all its glory once more.

• 

  Meet Ray, volunteer plant recorder

  14 February 2019

  Ray Goulder has worked extensively as a volunteer for us, and spent recent summers working as a volunteer plant recorder in Yorkshire, writing botanical reports and a book.

• 

  A head for heritage: Meet John Webb

  12 February 2019

  John Webb just loves the waterways and particularly getting his hands on old structures. It could be said he has a bit of a thing about cranes. During his 17 years of volunteering in the Bath area he has been instrumental in bringing derelict canal heritage back to life.

• 

  Meet Bill, 80 years old and steaming ahead

  16 November 2018

  After a career as a marine mechanical engineer Bill Darch could have easily hung up his spanners to enter a well-earned retirement. But, fortunately for the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port, he didn’t.

• 

  Meet Paul, volunteering in Stewponey

  13 November 2018

  Retiring after 40 years of working in an office environment, my intention had always been to do some form of volunteering, but I wasn’t sure what to do.

• 

  Meet John, volunteering in Newbury

  12 October 2018

  There is a special joy in model making. The joy of challenge and problem-solving, the joy of self-expression, and the pleasure of seeing your vision become a reality and of sharing it with others. Volunteer John Berry is getting rather good at it.

• 

  Meet Colin, volunteer lock keeper

  1 October 2018

  What does a volunteer lock keeper get up to on a typical day? Find out from Colin.