Volunteers
WHY NOT BECOME AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER??
We think the Grantham Canal corridor is an excellent resource for people of all ages and from all walks of life – if you agree why not consider helping out with its regeneration – it needn’t be a full-time commitment – you can involve yourself to whatever degree you like!
What’s your interest?
Towpath Walking
Slipway and Boating
Environmental & Restoration
Publicity and Marketing
Administration
If you’ve any expertise – or even just lots of enthusiasm – you can help regenerate the Grantham Canal
So ………. why not join the Team of your choice?
We have teams that need more members so why not call the Team Leaders:-
Towpath Walkers – Peter Lees 01949 843853
Slipway & Boating – Mike Oliver 07713 265072
Environmental – Leigh Hood 01400 281648
Publicity – Mike Stone 0115 931 4508
Administration - Mike Stone 0115 931 4508
Don’t delay – Phone today!
Help us to maintain and develop the Grantham Canal on behalf of everyone.
Training for Members
As part of the British Waterways new approach to ‘Working with Volunteers’ all Grantham Canal Society members who wish to be active and work on the canal will have to participate in a formal Training Programme. This even includes such straight-forward roles as painting structures or being a towpath warden.
In parallel with the training for volunteers the society is also aiming to achieve self-certification status so that close supervision of work by British Waterways is not required. Once gained the society will be responsible for managing and, importantly, recording that any persons active, on behalf of BW or GCS, on the canal have completed the necessary training and hold the certificate appropriate to the role they are undertaking.
From an administrative position it is therefore much easier to ask all active members to participate in the BW training programme than to develop a complex recording system that is required to verify everyone’s certification at each event or time they are operating. This would otherwise add considerably to the management burden on an almost daily basis. When the programme gets to the more specific training e.g. weed-boat or trip-boat operations then fewer members will need to participate in those courses.
Two training courses have so far been arranged in February on Friday 13th and Saturday 28th. The response has been very positive and the Friday course is fully booked and that for the 28th has only a few spaces remaining. These courses last about 3 hours and are open to all society members.
Further dates will be announced shortly so if you wish to take part please keep watching for announcements on the society’s website and contact Mike Stone on Chairman@granthamcanal.com
Come on and Join in!
Help the canal to be an active waterway again in 2009.
People like you can make a difference!
Volunteer Training
British Waterways and the GCS are developing a series of training courses for volunteers which will enable them to participate in active restoration projects on the Grantham Canal. There are three steps to full certification, steps one and two of which are essential before a member can join a working party. These are:-
Step 1 – Attendance at presentation of videos covering basic rules for Manual Handling and working in Confined Spaces - about 1 hour for each video with discussion time. Probably a group session of one half day at a suitable location.
Step 2 - New Recruit training – Working with equipment. Initial training on: Water safety, Fire safety, Working safely, Emergency First Aid. These will take 1 or 2 days depending on individuals learning ability.
Step 3 - Specific equipment training, including: - Brush cutter, clearing saw, strimmer, pruner, hedge trimmer and mower. Again these courses could take 1 or 2 days per equipment depending on individual abilities.
Once these foundation courses have been completed successfully there may be opportunities for individuals to participate in further training on other equipment
Certificates will be issued to each individual completing the courses who thereafter will be able to be active members of restoration working parties at the various project sites along the canal.
This is a great opportunity that British waterways are offering and I recommend that you put your name forward as a participant. There will be no charge to fully paid up society members who will be covered by the society’s insurance whilst on the course and on restoration work parties.
To enrol for these courses please send an e-mail to chairman@granthamcanal.com indicating your wish to participate and with your name, address and contact phone number.
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