Volunteer Lock-Keeper (Bullholme vlks)

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

Job summary

Join a dedicated team as a volunteer lock keeper at Bullholme Lock. This role involves assisting boaters and maintaining the beautiful waterways, perfect for outdoor enthusiasts looking to make a difference while meeting new people. With support from the Canal & River Trust, you will be part of a century-old tradition, ensuring a hospitable experience for visitors.

Benefits

Meet other volunteers

Learn new skills

Discover more volunteering opportunities

Qualifications

• Enthusiasm and willingness to learn.
• Availability of at least one day a week.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Great communication skills

Practical skills for minor maintenance

Teamworking skills

Job description

Join us at Bullholme Lock on the Aire/Calder to be part of a growing number of like-minded people who enjoy being outdoors and help us maintain this historic waterway as a volunteer lock keeper.

The role involves assisting boaters if required, general light maintenance of the lock and surrounding area, painting lock hardware and fencing, grass cutting, weeding, and keeping the area free from litter for all to enjoy. Once volunteers are confident in the role, it will become self-supervised and self-managed, with full support from a Canal & River Trust team leader.

The opportunity can be attended at your convenience once confident, but initially on a weekday.

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 volunteer lock keepers play an essential role in the visitor experience by providing a polite and friendly welcome, assisting boaters through the locks, and helping maintain the area.

This is a perfect opportunity for those who enjoy working outdoors, are looking for something different, and want to support the Canal & River Trust. The key qualities we’re looking for are enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.

Anyone over 18 with at least one day a week available can join. After appropriate selection, training, and induction, the role is expected to run from April to October, with local variations possible.

What you will be doing

• Helping boats through the locks
• Talking to customers
• Litter picking and minor vegetation works
• Declaring any unspent convictions during registration and participating in risk assessments as needed

The skills you need

• Great communication skills, as this role involves talking to people
• Practical skills for minor maintenance to ensure locks are functional
• Teamworking skills, as you'll be part of a team even if some tasks are performed alone

What's in it for you

• A great way to meet other volunteers, learn new skills, and discover more volunteering opportunities