Community boat crew seeks more volunteers
A DOUBLING in demand for its cruises has prompted the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterways Trust to appeal for more volunteers.
The new all- electric accessible community boat Electra already has a 52-strong team but more are needed.
Volunteer chairperson, Jane Wolfson, said: “Electra volunteers work as one big team to create and deliver a range of enjoyable cruises on the Grand Union Canal. Some people crew the boat, others work behind the scenes to get everything ready and some people do a bit of both!”
There are currently shore-based volunteering vacancies in customer liaison, social media, marketing, outreach, fundraising and project management. There are also vacancies for cabin hosts to welcome and chat with guests and serve a range of food and drink from the onboard galley bar, among other roles.
Lindsey Patraiko, volunteer social media manager, said: “I volunteered because it was unique, exciting and I wanted to enhance and develop my social media skills with a flair of creativity. I would encourage others to join our keen band of volunteers.”
Volunteer co-ordinator Gill Kirkup, who also volunteers as a cabin host, said: “I joined up because meeting and chatting with the wide variety of guests on Electra, of all ages and from the different communities in Milton Keynes, is the most rewarding part of being a cabin host.”
Milton Keynes claims to have a higher number of volunteers per head of population than any other city in the UK, with 84,500 of its citizens regularly volunteering.