Another CART committee

THE latest committee for the Canal & River Trust (CART) is the Volunteering Advisory Committee.

We are told that the new charity wants to attract more volunteers and be regarded as an established and trusted volunteering charity, with the aim of having fewer paid workers but 10,000 regular volunteers by 2022.

Chairman

Dr Justin Davis Smith CBE, chief executive of Volunteering England, has agreed to be chairman of the Volunteering Advisory Committee for the Trust, ahead of it coming into being 'later this summer'.

British Waterways has released statistics that the amount of time volunteers have given over the past year has increased 62 per cent to 38,862 days.

We are told that as chairman of the Advisory Committee, Dr Davis Smith will lead a panel of experts from the waterways and volunteering sectors to advise the new Trust's management on strategic volunteering decisions.

Robin Evans, British Waterways Chief Executive explained:

"Volunteering will be a cornerstone of the new charity and we want to encourage as many people as possible to get involved with their local canal or river. I'd like to thank all our volunteers who have given up time this past year to help look after this national treasure. I'd also like to thank and welcome Dr Smith and look forward to working alongside him and all our waterways volunteers in the exciting months ahead as we launch the Canal & River Trust."

Head of Community Engagement, Caroline Killeavy, added:

"The continued growth in volunteering is a clear indication of the good will that exists towards the waterways amongst the general public. Volunteering activities can range from moving historic boats, carrying out wildlife and engineering surveys, being a volunteer lock keeper or practical improvements to the stretch of canal on your doorstep."