Major cultural change needed

THE note by Chris Love on the apparent shortage of volunteers reminds me of a couple of events during my recent run through the West Midlands and down to the Severn, writes David Lyneham-Brown.

While on the Birmingham & Fazeley I talked to a retired British Waterways guy who had spent 10 years on that canal. Three months before I spoke to him (that was in mid September) he had contacted the CaRT volunteer people in that area offering his services. He had heard nothing. Not sure that CaRT can afford to ignore volunteer offers from their own experienced people.

Unofficial volunteers

Does CaRT realise how many unofficial volunteers work around the system? This Autumn I have met up with three individuals offering to help, none official volunteers but all very friendly, helpful and who asked if I would like a hand. I welcomed all three and appreciated their help and conversation.

Came across four CaRT lock-side volunteers—three were very helpful and effective. One was rather officious, insisting that I should stay on my boat when working up the Droitwich new locks and who got rather upset when I got off to rope up. I explained that I was single handing and had my routine for working through a lock—I left him to do most of the locking but the expression he gave me as I left made me think I had ruined his day. But that said the volunteers, official and unofficial, are to be welcomed and encouraged.

Volunteering leaflets

Twice I have given gongoozlers details of their local CaRT office, and suggested that they made contact and offer their services—both were interested and one was visibly excited by the prospect. Maybe when CaRT renew our licences it could send us volunteering leaflets (message on one side, contact details/application form on the reverse) that we could hand out to those who show a real interest.

Regarding the comment about CaRT's inability to rationalise his offer to move to a site and work for a period in that immediate area. Don't be surprised. CaRT is going to have to experience a major culture change internally before it comes anywhere near maximising the volunteer opportunity. Just ask some of the volunteers in the restoration movement.