Volunteer Lock-Keeper (Curdworth Locks)

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

Job summary

Join Canal & River Trust as a volunteer lock keeper and support the waterways while enjoying the outdoors. This role involves assisting boaters, maintaining locks, and meeting new people in a teamwork-oriented environment. If you're enthusiastic and willing to learn, this opportunity is perfect for you!

Benefits

Meet other local volunteers

Learn new skills

Hear about more volunteering opportunities

Qualifications

• Great communication skills — talking to people.
• Practical skills — minor maintenance for lock functionality.
• Teamworking skills — working as part of a team, even if some time is alone.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

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. Their role is to provide a polite and friendly welcome to waterway visitors, assist boaters through the locks if they wish, and help maintain the area. At Curdworth, we do lots of vegetation management — mowing, strimming, hedge cutting, etc., as well as creating flower beds and wildflower meadows. We also carry out lock maintenance, including painting.

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

Anyone over the age of 18 with at least a day a week available can join. After appropriate selection, training, and induction sessions, you will be welcomed to the team. Curdworth volunteers work all year round.

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, assist boaters through the locks, and help maintain the area.
It’s a perfect opportunity for those who enjoy working outdoors and are looking for something different to do to support the Canal & River Trust. The key qualities we’re looking for are enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.
Anyone over the age of 18 with at least a day a week available can join. Following appropriate selection, training, and induction, the role is expected to commence fully around April and run through October (local variations may apply).

What you will be doing

1. Helping boats through the locks
2. Talking to customers
3. Litter picking and/or minor vegetation works
4. Declaring any unspent convictions during registration and participating in risk assessments as needed

The skills you need

1. Great communication skills — talking to people
2. Practical skills — minor maintenance to ensure locks are functional
3. Teamworking skills — working as part of a team, even if some time is spent alone

What's in it for you

• Meet other local volunteers, learn new skills, and hear about more volunteering opportunities if interested