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Volunteer Hub

Publicity and Events Officer

Advice and Support

Events, festivals and activities play a key role in raising IWA’s profile at a local level by increasing the knowledge of who we are and what we do, amongst the general public and other organisations.  To do this we need to open up channels of communication with local government, businesses, individuals and other groups who could be helpful in advancing our cause.

Publicity

This section of the toolkit has resources to help your role in publicising the activities, attending events and using social media. 

  • How to write a press release
  • Ordering branded materials
  • Book an IWA gazebo for your event 
  • Social Media: Social media is really just another way of communicating with people and it can work alongside more traditional channels of communication, for example branch magazines, emails, web pages etc. Using social media channels increases our presence on the web, providing more ways for people to find out about our organisation.  Our Social Media Policy and guidance for branches provides information, both on the basic uses of social media and how branches can set up accounts. Using social media can present a reputational risk, as anything said in public can be picked up and used, so IWA officers engaging with social media channels need to have read the policy.
  • Tell your story – Watch this webinar given as part of our Restoration Hub training series.  Delivered by an experienced PR professional it will help you understand how to tell your event / campaign story.  Watch the webinar now.
  • Speaking about IWA – download a copy of our IWA PowerPoint presentation template. 

Events

  • Branch Stands & Hiring IWA Gazebos: If a branch organises an event or attends an event organised by others, it can be useful to have a display which contains information about IWA, the branch, and relevant local campaigns for the public to look at. Where a full stand isn’t appropriate, basic PVC banners with logos and website links and a basic message can be printed. PVC banners are useful at clean-up events so that the branch can gain recognition for the work by passers-by. 
  • Leaflets Membership leaflets provide a good prop for starting a conversation with potential members as they contain basic information about what IWA does, the person can take it away to read at a later date and there’s a membership form included. Branches need to make sure that their branch code is stamped on any membership forms it distributes to gain recognition for recruitment.  The membership team at the Chesham office has a range of leaflets and other literature available that can be used for recruiting members. Please contact Tracy Higgin – [email protected] on 01494 783453 ext. 601.
  • Organising a boat rally Organising a boat rally on your local waterway can be a useful means of gaining media and public attention for your cause, whether it’s to promote a nearby restoration, or just to show the benefits that boaters bring to a community.  It can be great fun too – and it can be a fund-raiser.
  • Organising a lock wind or community day: Lock Winds and Community Days offer a way to raise funds and engage boaters and towpath-users, and can be used to promote IWA’s work, locally and nationally with a view to recruiting new members. 
  • Branch Meetings – Looking for a speaker?  Check out our list of speakers on waterways topics (fully revised in May 2025).

Take a look at our campaigning resources here

Text to Give

Text to Give

Waterways For Today Resources

Boats attending the Festival of Water in St Neots 2018

Publicity and Events Officer

Organise a boat rally

Organising a lock wind

A volunteer looking after the gazebo stand at IWA Canalway Cavalcade

IWA Branded Clothing

Langport river frontage project - new slipway

Campaign Planning Template

IWA Brand and Logo Guidelines

Writing a Press Release: Guidance