IWA branch work parties encourage and help communities to take pride in their local waterways, protecting and enhancing it for future generations. Work parties, our ‘blue gyms’, are tailored to suit the needs of local waterways and the skills of volunteers. IWA branches undertake a wide range of activities from  painting locks and bridges, clearing vegetation and removing invasive species, to grappling rubbish from the canals.

Resources

Here are a few helpful resources for volunteers running work parties.

• Health & Safety: Health & safety is of prime importance on any work site. Go to our ‘Keeping Everyone Safe’ section for more information. Every activity must have signed off a method statement and risk assessment.  This should not be an onerous task – it is just a simple was of  setting out what you plan to do, and thinking about what could go wrong and what could be done to avoid that. The Volunteer Hub has several examples which organisers can download and personalise to your project. If you get stuck please contact Mikk Bradley, IWA’s Health & Safety Advisor who will be able to give you a helping hand.
• Work Party Planning Checklist: Going on a Site Visit before your work party is a useful way to scope the work and identify possible hazards. To help we have provided you with a helpful checklist for when you visit work site.  Download the Checklist.