Waterways Action Squad

Thanks to Waterways Action Squad, over the past two years more than 900 young people have got out and made a difference to their local waterway - bulding new wildlife habitats, improving access to canals and rivers, identifying and removing invasive species and creating stunning waterside murals, music and poetry.

Waterways Action Squad was set up in 2009 to counter the opinion amongst young people that 'canals are not for us'.

Original targets were to get 530 young people aged 16-25 involved with canals and rivers in North-West England. A target that was beaten by a whopping 60%.

Waterways Action Squad has been instrumental in changing perceptions, both amongst waterways users and amongst young people themselves, and the efforts of the volunteers have had a real impact on waterways across the North West.

See what our volunteers thought of their experience.

You can also read the full evaluation report of the project.

Project 24:24

We are committed to encouraging more young people to discover, explore and get involved with their local waterway and are now working with the Department for Education on Project 24:24 - where young people will volunteer for 24 hours a week for 24 weeks.

Want to know more?

contact Emma Wright or hear it from the horse's mouth - check out the Waterways Action Squad blog

Partners

British Waterways

Funders

v and Bank of America

I've enjoyed learning about the different fruits that are in most common hedge rows, but probably the best part has been being a part of an organisation that does good and useful things for the environment and for the people who use it. Johnny Pierce, Waterways Action Squad volunteer