Volunteer Lock-Keeper (woodlesford VLKs)

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

Job summary

A local waterway charity is looking for volunteer lock keepers to help maintain the historic waterways. This role consists of assisting boaters, performing light maintenance, and keeping the area clean. It's ideal for those who enjoy outdoor work and have great communication skills. Volunteers will have the opportunity to meet others and enhance their skills while engaging with the community.

Benefits

Meet other local volunteers

Learn new skills

Volunteering opportunities

Qualifications

• Over the age of 18 and available at least one day a week.
• Willingness to learn and enthusiasm.

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

Overview

Join us at Woodlesford and Fishpond 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 of lock hardware and fencing, grass cutting, weeding and keeping the area free from litter, and working on the surrounding area. This will be a self-supervised opportunity once volunteers are confident in the role and will self-manage themselves, fully supported by a Canal & River Trust team leader. The opportunity can be attended at your own 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-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 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.