Volunteer Lock-Keeper (Aire and Calder Freight)

Canal & River Trust; Pollington; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charitable organization is seeking enthusiastic volunteers to assist as lock keepers on Britain's canals in Pollington. This role involves helping boats navigate through locks, talking to visitors, and maintaining cleanliness in the area. Ideal candidates enjoy outdoor work and have great communication and practical skills. The commitment required is at least one day a week, with training provided. This opportunity runs initially from Monday to Friday, with work starting in the morning.

Benefits

Meet other local volunteers

Learn new skills

Hear about other volunteering opportunities

Qualifications

• Must be over the age of 18.
• Must have access to a vehicle.
• At least one day a week available for volunteering.

Responsibilities

• Helping boats through the locks.
• Talking to customers.
• Litter picking and/or minor vegetation works.

Skills

Great communication skills

Practical skills

Teamworking skills

Job description

Lock keepers have been a fixture on Britain’s canals for hundreds of years and are one of the oldest traditions of the waterways. As ‘the face of the waterway’, modern-day volunteer lock keepers play an integral part in the visitor experience.

This role is to provide assisted passage for the forthcoming regular freight movement from Pollington lock on the Aire/Calder up to Stourton Wharfe (Leeds) and return.

Meeting the vessel at Pollington lock then traveling in your own vehicle to the next lock, preparing the lock for the vessel and penning then through before traveling to the next lock in a sequence all the way to Leeds Wharfe (6‑8 hours journey).

Out of pocket expenses will be paid to include mileage.

It’s a perfect opportunity for those who enjoy working in the outdoors and are perhaps looking for something different to do and want to help support the Canal & River Trust. The key qualities we’re looking for are enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.

Anyone can join as long as you are over the age of 18 and have at least a one day a week available and have access to a vehicle.

Following appropriate selection, training and induction sessions will be held prior to taking on this role.

This opportunity will initially be Monday to Friday with AM (07.00) / 16.30 PM.

Why we want you

Lock keepers have been a fixture on Britain’s canals for hundreds of years and are one of the oldest traditions of the waterways. As ‘the face of the waterway’, modern-day volunteer lock keepers play an integral part in the visitor experience. Their role is to provide a polite and friendly welcome to waterway visitors, assisting boaters through the locks and helping to maintain the area.

It’s a perfect opportunity for those who enjoy working in the outdoors and are perhaps looking for something different to do and want to help support the Canal & River Trust. The key qualities we’re looking for are enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.

Anyone can join as long as you are over the age of 18 and have at least a day a week available. Following appropriate selection, training and induction sessions we expect the role to commence fully around April and run through to October (local variations may apply).

What you will be doing

• Helping boats through the locks
• Talking to customers
• Litter picking and/or minor vegetation works
• When you register as a volunteer, we will ask you about any unspent convictions which you need to declare and risk assess these as needs be.

The skills you need

• Great communication skills. This is all about talking to people.
• Practical skills – it’s also about minor maintenance to ensure that your locks are functional.
• Teamworking skills – whilst you may spend some of your time alone, fundamentally you’re part of a team.

What's in it for you

• It's a great way to meet other local volunteers, learn new skills, and hear about other volunteering opportunities if you fancy getting more involved.