Our volunteers are the backbone of our charity. Each year, at the Marsh Charitable Awards, we celebrate their incredible contribution, rewarding those who have gone above and beyond for the cause.
In the East Midlands region, Liam Paling, aged just 16, picked up the award for Young Volunteer of the Year. Angela Varley, his volunteering team leader, shares his story.
“Over the last four years, we’ve turned our section of the Grand Union Leicester Line from somewhere that looked very sorry for itself into a more welcoming place,” she tells us. “And when Liam came along for a week’s work experience, we soon had him learning about locks and workboats and clearing leaves, litter, and vegetation from the towpath. In just a few days, he had impressed everyone he met, soaking in knowledge like a sponge. Since then, he’s returned during every school holiday to lend a hand with the Leicester South Towpath Taskforce.”
In fact, Liam himself suggested Canal & River Trust as his ideal work placement. “I live in Glen Parva, right by the towpath,” he says, “and I use my stretch to find a bit of calm and contentment – things can get a bit stressful at college. The city can feel grey and built-up. But on the canal, you can escape. It’s really helped me, and I wanted to give something back. I’d seen volunteers in the blue uniforms working on the canal, so I wondered if I could help.
“Everyone made me very welcome. They were very ‘beginner-friendly’ and explained how the locks work, showed me how to steer the workboat, and introduced me to all the different activities. Whatever I wanted to try, they went out of their way to give me opportunities. And I'm very thankful for that. Modern life is so hyper; it’s good they help others find somewhere to let off steam.”
Liam enjoys his canal work so much that his passion inspired his support assistant at Wigston College, Andrea Beeby, to get involved and become a volunteer herself, along with her partner.
“I’ve walked and cycled up the canal hundreds of times,” says Andrea, “but never really appreciated how much work goes into clearing litter, looking after the locks, and helping the wildlife. I've learnt a lot from volunteering with Liam. And I must say, I’ve seen a massive change in him over the last 12 months.
“He’s a clever, academic lad, but maybe at one time, he was shy and reluctant to try new things, meet new people, or do anything outside his comfort zone. Now he gets stuck in and absolutely has a go. College and academic work are important, but you need to find a balance. And Liam’s found his confident, happy place on the canal. Just seeing him smile says everything.”
In the West Midlands region, a group of volunteer lock keepers picked up the team award after transforming a neglected stretch of towpath at Wolverhampton Flight 21 – a flight of locks spanning one and three-quarter miles along the Birmingham Canal.
“It was a bit of a mess when we started,” says 81-year-old Robert Smith, who’s been volunteering for the Trust for the past seven years. “There was a lot of graffiti, and people would tend to avoid the towpath. So we took it upon ourselves to remove it; if it’s good, artistic graffiti, we leave it, but we always paint over the rude and offensive stuff. We also get stuck in cutting back vegetation, litter-picking, and clearing the rubbish out of the canal.”
The team’s hard work and dedication have certainly paid off, beautifying the towpath, improving water quality, and encouraging people to make the most of their local canal. “It’s become a really safe place,” says Robert, “and we see a lot more people walking along the towpath; we get cyclists, nature spotters, groups of friends having a natter; you name it, we get them all down here now.”
Thanks to the efforts of Robert and the team, local wildlife is also recovering, with fish, birds, insects, and even otters thriving. As well as making a huge difference to their local community, for the close-knit crew, volunteering has had personal benefits too.
For Alan Brazier, who joined us just two months ago, working with the team has given him a new lease of life. “I had a stroke just before Christmas last year,” he explains. “I was told to get some more exercise and mental stimulation, so I came along to a welcome session and met the team, and I’ve loved it ever since. It’s done me the world of good – mentally and physically.”
“It’s given me a nice routine and a real sense of purpose,” adds Kash Dhillon, who’s been with the group for a little over two years. “I’ve got a good team around me; we have a laugh and a joke, and of course, it’s great to give something back to the community.”
For their volunteer team leader, James Harrison, taking home the award at last month’s ceremony is a fitting reward for the group’s years of effort, determination, and hard graft. “It’s been incredible,” he says. “They’ve transformed what was once a neglected area into a safe, pleasant and peaceful space that the community can be proud of.”
If you or someone you know would like to volunteer for our charity, why not come along to one of our welcome sessions? Who knows, a year from now, you could be picking up an award of your own.
