The waterways network needs to continue to be a usable and valuable asset now and into the future. We want to ensure that that its history is protected and included in development plans rather than being removed.
What they do
We are looking to create a small project team to spend the next 4-6 months researching the waterways network and mapping Conservation Areas to create a central database. We will then be able to lobby local authorities to designate more waterways and their corridors as conservation areas.
What’s involved
This is a flexible role and can be done from home.
This is project based role and we anticipate it will involve 15 hours per month for 4-6 months.
Main tasks
The Inland Waterways Association is the only organisation actively campaigning across all waterways to protect and preserve their unique heritage. We also want to ensure there is better recognition of the living waterway heritage such as skills and techniques. We are not asking for the waterways to become a museum. In fact, we want the very opposite. The waterways network needs to continue to be a usable and valuable asset now and into the future. All we are asking is that its history is protected and included in development plans rather than being removed.
The Heritage Mappers will:
- Research & identify waterways which are protected by Conservation Area status and record them in a centralised database of information through a desktop exercise of searching local authority websites.
- Create a ‘gap tracker’ that identifies where conservation areas have not been designated allowing IWA to launch a national campaign to designate more waterways as Conservation Areas.
Required skills and experience
Experience not required as full training and induction will be given to volunteers. The following skills would be desirable:
- Interest in waterways heritage
- Good IT skills, basic GIS skills would be useful
- Good communication skills and enjoys working in a team
Training and Support
You will receive ongoing support from the Campaigns Team. Each Heritage Mapper will be given a full welcome and induction to IWA as well as having access to other training webinars and workshops such as:
- Webinar: Welcome and Induction to IWA
- Webinar: Heritage Heroes: Protecting our Waterways Heritage: Project Outline and your role as a Heritage Champion
- Webinar: Guidance on engaging with local authorities: focus on archaeological and historic buildings/ structures and planning permissions when working on listed structures.
- Workshop: How to identify heritage at risk
- Workshop: Lone Working: Undertaking a Risk Assessment
Expenses: We will cover pre-agreed travel expenses for site visits.
JOIN US
If you are interested in volunteering for this role, please contact Amy Tillson at amy.tillson@waterways.org.uk
