We always welcomes new members. The more members we have, the more it shows the support for the Waterway. But we are even more grateful when members have the time to volunteer to play an active part in the ever growing work of the Trust.
Volunteers are still absolutely vital for the future of the Trust.
If you’d like to become more actively involved please contact Claire who is our Project Officer with responsibility for supporting volunteer involvement. Click here to send her a message.
The Volunteers Committee
The Volunteers Committee has the important responsibility for co-ordinating the activities of volunteers. We meet bi-monthly to progress those aspects of the plans set by the Board. Broadly, it is a forum for:
- The key volunteers who take on specific action responsibilities within the VC remit.
- Regular review of those specific activities (and mutual updating of members) and agreement of any modifications of future action.
- Debate and formulation of future/new activities and how they may be discharged.
- It also provides a conduit for transmission of concerns/suggestions of the volunteers to the Board via the Director chairing the VC. (and a reverse conduit from the Board to VC members of relevant Trust developments in other committees/ policy decisions etc.)
The Volunteers Committee comprises:
- Those volunteers who are prepared to be active organisers or individual task holders (e.g. Membership Secretary; Newsletter Editor; Webmaster; Talks Team/programme Manager; Sub-Group Chairmen)
- Other volunteers not at present holding such portfolios, but keen to be more heavily involved, or undertaking specific jobs in a Sub-Group
Any member volunteer interested in coming on to the VC will be invited as an observer to a meeting to inform himself/herself better. Membership of the VC thereafter will be arranged through the Committee’s Chairman.
Volunteer Sub-Groups
There are two sub-groups of volunteers bringing together members living across the region with interest in promoting their section of the route. These groups
meet about every six weeks and develop their own work programme under the
general guidance and encouragement of the Volunteers Committee.
The MKtoM1 Group
This Group was formed in early 2003 and has carried out a wide range of activities:
- Promotional walks along the proposed route of the canal
- Running B&MK Stands at local events in the area
- Special event at Willen Lake involving a visiting narrowboat and model narrowboats on the lake.
- Promotional cruises for local dignitaries
- Designing and erecting signs on the canal bridges on either side of the designated start of the new canal off the Grand Union in Campbell Park.
- Winning a Lottery Awards for All grant to finance way-mark posts and information boards along the first 6km of the route from the Grand Union.
- Designing the posts and boards and running working parties to erect them
- Holding promotional events at the Community Desk in Central Milton Keynes
- Carrying out consultation work in support of the bid to the Big Lottery for the “Milton Keynes Waterway Park”
If you'd like to to join the MKtoM1 Group or come along to a meeting to find out more, please contact Vernon Draper. Click here to send him a message.
BedfordtoM1 Group
In 2007 the Bedford to M1 group was reformed.
- The main group meets once every two months in members' houses to plan and carry out activities to promote the waterway east of the M1.
- A Fundraising subgroup meets regularly
- There is an annual ‘Walk the route’, usually a 4 to 5 mile section of the proposed route which takes place in the spring or summer
- Every two years Bedford holds a river festival. This is a national event when The Trust takes the opportunity to join with British Waterways in spreading the word of the benefits of creating a waterway between Bedford and Milton Keynes
If you would like to join the Bedford toM1 group or come along to a meeting, please contact Andrew Eardley, Click here to send him a message.
