Ranger (Volunteer Bridge Keeper)

Availability

Available from 26/03/2024 to 05/11/2026

Volunteer role

Join our community of volunteers to help operate our historical swing bridges along the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. As the friendly face of the waterways, you will interact with the public on the towpath, maintain safety and of course, open the bridges for boats! Volunteers can work alone or as a pair operating a bridge, keeping things running smoothly whilst maintaining the heritage of the canal.

All you need to bring is an ability to learn and communicate and an enthusiasm for the waterways. We will provide full training in bridge operation and essential health and safety training. You'll take responsibility for significant heritage structures, sometimes stopping traffic and responding to incidents but you are never far from a colleague and will be working within a fantastically supportive team. If you require specific support please let us know and we can seek to facilitate this.

This is a fantastic way to learn more about canals and what's involved in keeping them alive.

What you will be doing

• Talking to customers
• Reporting issues from the Towpath
• Helping Customers
• When you register as a volunteer, we will ask you about any unspent convictions which you need to declare and risk assess these as needed.

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.