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Ways to get involved

Volunteer

Love the waterways? Find volunteering opportunities near you. 

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Events

Find out what’s happening on – or next to – a river or canal near you.

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Join

Join with us to support Britain’s 7,000 miles of canals and rivers.

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You can make a difference

We are the charity that works to protect and restore Britain’s 7,000 miles of canals and rivers. We campaign for better existing waterways and help bring forgotten waterways back to life. Your support – joining in with a local event or volunteering – can make a real difference.

Enter our photography competition

We invite photographers to submit entries for our 2022 competition. By entering, you can expect to see your imagery used across our website, blog pages, printed leaflets, reports and other communications materials.

Waterway underfunding

Hundreds of miles of waterways – along with their unique heritage and habitats – are currently starved of funding and rely on constant lobbying by us to safeguard their future.

Waterways Heritage at Risk

Britain’s canals and rivers are a unique, living heritage. But that heritage is at risk – from urban development, lack of protection, loss of skills and knowledge and climate change.

You can help Save Waterways Heritage.

Waterway restoration

Restoring the UK’s blue infrastructure – our inherited network of navigable canals and rivers – is good for people and places.

Restoration II

Over the last 75 years – since IWA was formed – more than 500 miles of waterway have been restored. This includes the Kennet & Avon Canal, the Rochdale Canal, the Warwickshire Avon, the Peak Forest Canal, Ashton Canal, the southern Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, the Basingstoke Canal, the Droitwich Canals, the Pocklington Canal, the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, much of the Great Ouse, the Droitwich Canals and main route through the Middle Level via Well Creek, and many other besides.

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