Waterside Champion (Guide at Standedge Tunnel)

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

Job summary

The Canal & River Trust is seeking passionate guides to join their team on tunnel boat trips. As a guide, you will engage with visitors, provide information about the tunnel's history, and support the boat's pilot. This opportunity enables you to make a meaningful impact in a unique environment while enjoying the rewards of volunteering.

Benefits

Sense of reward

New experience in a unique environment

Opportunity to help those in need

A supportive network of colleagues

Responsibilities

• Welcoming and engaging visitors.
• Volunteering in the operation of the waterways.
• Operating key parts of the waterways for safe passage.

Skills

Friendly

Reliable

Good with people

Happy working with others

Job description

We are recruiting guides to join our team on the tunnel trip boat. The boat goes through Standedge Tunnel, the longest, highest, deepest canal tunnel in the UK!

As a guide, you will be informing passengers about the construction and history of the tunnel, answering questions, looking after the passengers, and supporting the boat's pilot (Boatmaster).

Trips run mostly at weekends and during school holidays.

Full training on the history of our amazing tunnel will be provided.

If you are interested and want to learn more, you can visit us on a Saturday when trips are running, and one of our friendly, helpful volunteers will be happy to answer any questions. Or if you are excited by the opportunity and want to apply straight away, please submit your application.

Why we want you

As a Waterside Champion, we need your support to be there for our customers. The millions of visitors to our waterways, museums, and attractions are intrigued by our wonderful 200-year-old network. Our Champions facilitate a great experience for all.

There are various activities along our towpaths at our Welcome Stations, such as demonstrating in our collections teams at museums, caring for and operating swing and lift bridges to support passing boaters, and facilitating safe passage through tunnels where additional boater support is needed.

We also have other roles that complement our Waterside Champions, including Rangers, Lock keepers, Explorers, and Youth Engagement roles.

What you will be doing

• Representing the Trust to welcome and engage visitors, customers, and local people
• Volunteering in a team to care for the day-to-day operation of the waterways
• Operating key parts of the waterways to ensure safe passage by boaters and talking to members of the public about them
• When you register as a volunteer, we will ask you about any unspent convictions you need to declare and conduct a risk assessment as needed

The skills you need

• Friendly
• Reliable
• Good with people
• Happy working with others

What's in it for you

• Sense of reward
• New experience in a unique environment
• Opportunity to help those in need
• A supportive network of colleagues