As part of our Volunteers’ Week celebrations, we’re spotlighting different kinds of volunteering done in the Falkirk area. Today’s theme is the great outdoors, and groups who do a great deal of their work outside – like Re-Union Canal Boats and The Scottish Waterways Trust, who work on and around Scottish canals.
Re-Union Canal Boats is a volunteer-led social enterprise with bases in Edinburgh, Camelon and The Helix, Falkirk. They work with partners to engage communities to connect positively with the local canal, either on or off the water, through activities such as learning to drive a narrow boat and maintaining tow paths, or through enhancing wellbeing through use of green and blue spaces.
Their projects focus on reducing isolation, building new skills, employability, crewing, lock keeping and much more.
The Scottish Waterways Trust helps young people gain the skills and confidence to find work, bringing vibrancy, life and opportunities to some of the nation’s most disadvantaged communities. They encourage people to get active and improve their health and mental wellbeing, while safeguarding and improving the rich heritage and environments of Scotland’s canals.
Volunteering is a great way to keep active, and helps motivate people to get out of the house, according to the volunteers on the canals. “It gets you away from Jeremy Kyle,” says Colin.
For Garry, the friends and experiences he’s gained from volunteering are the important thing, something Scott and Peter echo.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Peter says. “I’ve learned a lot, even about planting! People should definitely come along and get involved.”
Both Re-Union and Scottish Waterways work to develop the skills of their volunteers, as well as helping them learn new ones, which can greatly increase employability.
So this Volunteers’ Week, why not take advantage of the lovely weather and stop by the canals to see the work done, and you can get involved?
“It’s such a great way to get experience,” David says. “Why not do it?”