Volunteer Lock-Keeper (Bramwith Lock)

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

Job summary

A waterway conservation charity in Stainforth is looking for volunteer lock keepers to assist visitors and boaters at Bramwith Lock. This role involves being the friendly face of the waterway, providing help to boaters, and participating in maintaining the area. Ideal for outdoor enthusiasts, no prior experience is required, just a commitment of one day a week. As a volunteer, you'll meet new people, learn practical skills, and support the heritage of the waterways in your local community.

Benefits

Meet other local volunteers

Learn new skills

Discover other volunteering opportunities

Qualifications

• Enthusiasm and willingness to learn.
• Available at least one day a week.
• Over 18 years old.

Responsibilities

• Assist boats through the locks.
• Engage with waterway visitors.
• Perform litter picking and minor vegetation works.

Skills

Communication skills

Practical skills

Teamworking skills

Job description

For centuries, lock keepers have been an essential part of Britain’s waterways, and Bramwith Lock proudly continues this tradition. As a manual lock, Bramwith offers a truly hands‑on experience for both boaters and volunteers, making it a unique and rewarding place to support.

By becoming a volunteer lock keeper at Bramwith Lock, you’ll be the friendly face of the waterway, welcoming visitors, assisting boaters as they work through the manual lock, and helping to keep the area clean, safe, and enjoyable. Your support not only makes each passage smoother and safer—it helps preserve the character and heritage of this well‑loved stretch of canal.

This role is ideal for anyone who enjoys being outdoors, meeting new people, and getting involved in practical, hands‑on tasks. You don’t need any prior experience—just enthusiasm, reliability, and a willingness to learn how a manual lock operates.

Anyone over 18 can join, as long as you can offer at least one day a week. After selection, training, and induction, we expect volunteer duties at Bramwith Lock to start fully around April and run through to October.

If you’re looking for a meaningful and active way to support your local waterway, we’d be delighted to welcome you to the Bramwith Lock team.

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 a 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.