IWA welcomes new interim chief executive
Groups invited to host a WRG Canal Camp
FORMER chairman of Amnesty International’s UK section Sarah O’Grady has taken on the role of IWA’s chief executive following the retirement of Neil Edwards after more than 20 years in the post.
Her appointment is for six months, or until a permanent successor is in place.
An experienced leader, providing consultancy and interim support to boards and executive teams, she works with a wide range of charities, from large to volunteer-led, including museums.
IWA national chairman Paul Rodgers said: “At a time when IWA is active at national, regional and local levels across as diverse a range of issues as the sustainability of the waterways network, the pressures on restoration programmes, planning and heritage matters, and the environment, it is crucial to demonstrate strong leadership both within the association and across the waterways ecosystem as a whole.
“Sarah is an authority on charity management and I know she will do a great job driving the organisation forward over the next few crucial months. This is our 75th year and her experience will ensure we have the right building blocks in place as we look forward to another 75 years focused on the regeneration and protection of our nation’s waterways.
“Having Sarah in place means IWA will be well-positioned for what we expect to be a very busy period. We are devoting energy and resources to a range of projects including the publication of our revised Practical Restoration Handbook and the launch of Part II of our Heritage Report, which highlights the threats faced by our waterways heritage from careless development.”
RESTORATION groups are being invited to apply to hold a Waterway Recovery Group Camp in 2021.
These week-long working holidays are open to volunteers aged over 18 who come from a wide range of backgrounds, with different skill levels and motivations. Each camp is run by a volunteer leadership team (leader and assistant leader) approved by the WRG board.
A camp can act as a catalyst to restoration projects by making significant progress in just one week, attracting positive publicity and helping groups complete jobs which require skills and experience their own volunteers may not have.
Applications are now open for projects that would benefit from canal camps in 2021. Canal societies, trusts and restoration groups are asked to express an interest in hosting a camp, through reading WRG’s Guide to Hosting a Canal Camp and completing the online application form at www. waterways.org.uk
In order to arrange visits for any potential sites final submissions are needed by close of play on September 30, 2020.
Camps scheduled to take place in 2020 have been moved to 2021 where requested by the restoration group concerned. There are still spaces for other camps to take place but groups are asked to complete the application form to ensure their projects are considered.
To discuss opportunities for future canal camps, contact 01494 783453 ext 607 or email enquiries@wrg.org.uk
In addition to canal camps, WRG also has several regional groups which may be interested in holding weekend digs to help projects. Requests can be submitted throughout the year, either directly to the groups concerned or via volunteers coordinator Alex Melson at alex.melson@waterways.org.uk or phone the above number.
Younger volunteers can also take part in weekend family camps which are a great opportunity for societies looking to improve publicity, help meet fundraising targets and bring in a new generation of navvies to waterway restoration.