Policies
Within this page we will introduce the various policies and statements that apply to membership and volunteering with The Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust.
Land management policies
Health and Safety policies
The Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust (the Trust) is run totally by volunteers and it is the Trust’s aim to ensure that all activities carried out by the volunteers is carried out in a safe and enjoyable manner. This extends for the meeting of the various committees and Trust social meetings, show events and working on site.
The Trust’s Health and Safety (H&S) Policy Statement demonstrate the Trust’s commitment to all its members and volunteers to ensure that any work carried out is done in a safe manner. It takes its legal responsibility seriously and operates within the relevant Health and Safety at Work regulations. The trust promotes, at every available opportunity, safe working practices in all aspects of our activities.
Working Party H&S Guide and numerous Method Statements and Risk Assessments have been created for standard tasks that volunteers may encounter. These highlights the possible risks and actions required to prevent injury to themselves, other volunteers and the general public whilst helping the Trust’s aim of restoring the Derby Canal. We would ask that all members read the various documents to ensure that they are aware of the possible risks associated with the tasks to be performed.
Please watch the below Inland Waterways Association (IWA) Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) Health & Safety Video, which summarises the best working practices for canal restoration:
Additionally, the IWA-WRG video below summaries the Trust’s intent to “Create a Culture of Safety” across any of our work sites:
Equal Opportunities Statement
The Trust encourages equal opportunity in all aspects of the Trust activities without discrimination by race, ethnic origin, colour, nationality, class, religion, gender, sexuality, employment status, age or disability. These are subject to legal requirement of Health and Safety at Work regulations and insurance restrictions for working on a construction site. The Trust would expect that any contractor working for the trust would have similar equal opportunity policy.
Any restoration work carried out by the Trust volunteers or contractors will ensure, were reasonable practical, that the design allows access for disabled visitors, in line with the conservation of heritage structures and the safety of all users of the restored canal.
Equality and Diversity Statement
The Trust will ensure that all our volunteers are treated fairly and given equal access to opportunities and resources regardless of age, disability, gender, marital status, race, ethnic origin, colour, nationality, religion, sex and sexual orientation. This will be subject to each volunteer’s capability and the Trusts health and safety policy.
The Trust values all our volunteers’ individual differences and oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.
Environmental Statement
The Trust will ensure that all its restoration activities protect and enhance the natural environment and the wildlife habitats along the canal route. It will seek to restore the ecology of the canal during its operational period, prior to being abandoned and filled in.
The Trust will seek guidance and liaise with other appropriate environmental bodies and the Canal and River Trust to ensure that the construction and maintenance of the restored canal is in line with current best practices and that the waterside habitats are appropriate for the local area.
Education Statement
The Trust will contribute to developing and maintaining an understanding of the Derby Canal, and its restoration projects, amongst all members of the public demonstrating the benefits of the canal restoration to wider community.
The Trust will make and maintain contact with all interested groups, local colleges and schools, to promote the restoration of the canal. Particularly, the history, enhancement of the environment and the social and economic benefits from the restoration.
Young Persons and Vulnerable Adult Protection Statement
Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust are committed to creating a safe environment for all volunteers on all its sites. Young (under 18 years old) and vulnerable persons, both young and old, are encouraged to become involved with all aspects for the Trusts work. All visiting volunteers are to be treated by respect and dignity, regardless age, gender, race or ability.
All young and vulnerable adult must be accompanied by a parent, carer or supervising responsible adult. The site supervisor will check with the parent, carer or supervising responsible adult that the suggested tasks is within the capability of the person volunteering.
All tasks are to be carefully planned, to ensure that the volunteer is happy and capable of carrying out the task. Dependant on the activity to be undertaken, the Trust will ensure that appropriate number of adults to young and vulnerable persons volunteering. For groups volunteering, the visiting group must ensure that there are sufficient supervisors for the number of vulnerable persons. Both male and female Trust volunteers to be available for any visiting party of young persons and vulnerable persons.
The Trusts volunteers are to be aware of the visiting persons ability and vulnerability. Volunteers should work with the visiting volunteers in an open environment and avoid any one to one contact. They will also maintain a safe and appropriate distance from visiting volunteers and avoid any unnecessary physical contact of any kind.
Before any photographs are taken of the visiting volunteers working, verbal consent must be obtained from the volunteer or their parent, carer or supervising responsible adult. Approval to be obtained from parent, carer or supervising responsible adult before photographs are used for publicity. The names of any individual child is not to identified in any text used.
Any event or incident will be reported to the site team leader and a written report forwarded to the Trust H&S officer.