Volunteering
The Trust is actively involved in a range of voluntary tasks, over weekends and in our free time, to maintain and restore the entire canal corridor.
For those love working outdoors…
Whether you are interested in learning or participating in hedge laying, creating bug hotels, learning a new outdoor skill or merely performing vegetation removal, we have a role for you!
This is a wonderful way of working outdoors, restoring our green space and providing a recognised service for residents bordering the canal corridor. In the past we have restored Borrowash Top Lock, Ullicker’s Bridge and Swarkestone Bridge (the little one over the remaining stub of the Derby Canal, not the causeway over the Trent flood plain!). We have maintenance and restoration efforts underway along the majority of the the canal line.
We have projects based indoors too – restoration of the Canal Cottages at Draycott has been ongoing for a few years now and we’re nearing completion!
Please see the the Working Parties page for a gallery of our more recent activities!
The Trust has the appropriate insurance for members undertaking work party activities. All work parties will have an appropriately appointed leader and First Aider. Details of the insurance cover are available on request from our treasurer, through treasurer@derbycanal.org.uk. Use of some equipment is restricted to those that have the appropriate training certification.
Our volunteers can generally be found along the canal line ( at “Gardening Working Parties”), or at our related projects (i.e. Canal Cottages, Lock Restorations) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
If you would like to come and join one of our friendly work parties please see the Calendar for dates and locations and contact info@derbycanal.org.uk to ensure you are added to the mailing list and are kept abreast of the weekly plans. Gardening Working Parties are being managed specifically by coordinator@derbycanal.org.uk. Appropriate clothing and footwear should be worn based on the activities being done, some PPE will be available but if you have your own please bring it along!
If you are a business or organisation looking for team day we can generally arrange something to accommodate you on an alternative day, smaller work groups can join our regular working Wednesday. Please contact coordinator@derbycanal.org.uk for more details.
For those who want to contribute in other ways…
In addition to the physical work parties there are many opportunities to volunteer:
- We have a number of volunteers engaged in planning and administration of the Trust. We always welcome new volunteers in this area.
- We have a number of vacancies available for those that have the skills to help us in key ways.
- Are you a civil engineer, quantity surveyor, construction manager, fundraiser in particular with some time to contribute?
- Do you have skills such as plant operation, trip boat operation or simply like talking to people?
Please contact chair@derbycanal.org.uk and tell us what you can do.
You would be welcome to join us, and we look forward to seeing you at our next event.
