Volunteers honoured for canal efforts
THE Swansea Canal Society, a group of volunteers based around the Swansea Canal in the Lower Swansea Valley, has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Formed in 1981, it became a registered charity in 2004 and modified the charitable status in 2016 to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
Volunteers care for a linear water park that everyone can be proud of and the society is dedicated to improving that amenity for everyone’s benefit.
It is run by volunteers that come from all walks of life and encourages those with special needs, including the clients of Whitethorns Intensive Day Service, Morriston.
In recent years the society has welcomed working parties from the Waterway Recovery Group that have been particularly active in supporting efforts to restore Trebanos and Ynysmeudwy Locks. It also hosts volunteer work parties from commercial organisations.
Although on-site work is suspended currently due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the society is very ‘hands on’. Members pride themselves on physical hard work every Tuesday when they undertake various restoration tasks. These include restoring the canal bank in several sites between Clydach and Trebanos by laying down concrete-filled bags and topping these with either flat stone or earth.
Another, never-ending activity is litter picking. The society operates a vibrant programme of canoe and kayak hire for the benefit of the entire community that, sadly, is also not able to open at the moment. In addition to the physical activity, much work goes on in the background including seeking grant funding to support its work.
None of the activities of the society would be possible without close collaboration with Glandwr Cymru – the Canal & River Trust in Wales – that owns the canal. The trust gives permission to work on the canal, helps to design and supervise projects, provides much of the materials used in restoration and offers continuing expert advice and support.
Gordon Walker, chairman of the Swansea Canal Society, said: “I am delighted that our group’s work to bring the Swansea Canal back to life for the community through its heritage, wildlife and navigation has been recognised. I’d like to pay tribute to the hard work and commitment of the society’s volunteers, our friends from Whitethorns and everyone else who contributes so much time and effort to the canal.”
He added that none of this would be possible without the support of Glandwr Cymru. Its chief executive Richard Parry commented: “The Swansea Canal Society is a fantastic group of volunteers whose love for, and commitment to the canal and its role in the local community shines through in everything they do.
“They also make it tremendous fun – and by giving their time and energy they are making a vital difference to the health and wellbeing of everyone who uses the canal today. Their enthusiastic work to restore it for greater use is inspiring.”
Representatives of Swansea Canal Society will receive the award from Mrs Louise Fleet, HM Lord-Lieutenant of West Glamorgan, later this summer, as soon as the pandemic permits. Two volunteers will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2021, along with other recipients of this year’s award.