Join our panel of expert advisors. Ideally you will have a background or academic interest in conservation, archaeology or management of historic structures. You will be able to provide advice and guidance on heritage matters to our volunteer community and staff team. Consequently we can make sure waterways heritage is understood and appreciated by government, stakeholders and developers.
What they do
The Heritage Advisory Panel provides technical and practical advice on waterway heritage matters to IWA’s heritage champions, branches and restoration groups working in parallel with IWA’s Restoration Hub and Planning Advisory Panel.
Why it matters
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’s involved
This is a flexible role and there will be the opportunity to define how you are involved.
This is flexible role with no time set time commitments but we anticipate it will involve 15-20 hours per month. Members of the Heritage Group will meet periodically but will primarily liaise by email and video conferencing.
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 Advisory Panel’s role is:
- To provide advice on specific heritage issues related to navigable and under restoration waterways liaising respectively with the IWA’s operational and strategic teams.
- To encourage IWA branches to identify heritage buildings and structures which are at risk of being lost or seriously derogated and to assist with registering these as part of IWA’s Gap Analysis Project.
- To encourage a greater understanding of the overall significance of waterways heritage.
- To support trustees in making a case for the importance of waterways heritage at the highest levels in government, navigation authorities and other agencies.
- To represent IWA in liaison with other organisations concerned with heritage such as the Heritage Alliance.
Required skills and experience
We are looking for volunteers with varied backgrounds with experience in fields such as conservation, management and interpretation of historic buildings, archaeology and academic perspectives. An induction will be given to volunteers.
Training and Support
You will receive ongoing support from Heritage Advisory Group and your local branch.
Each National Heritage Advisor will complete 6 hours of online training. This will include:
- 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
