New intake at Canal College
CANAL College celebrated students’ successful graduation this summer as a new intake of students started a programme running through the autumn.
It is a heritage-focused employ ability project runby the environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful since 2019. People of all ages and backgrounds take part, developing confidence, making friends, working as a team and boosting their life andwork opportunities for jobs or training. The programme supports the work of Archaeology Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland and Scottish Canals.
Students graduating this summer took part in outdoor, hands- on learning along the Forth & Clyde and Union Canals, completing practical activities including excavations with Archaeology Scotland at the Antonine Wall, building floating gardens with the Dandelion Project, working with Scottish Canals staff to maintain the Forth & Clyde Canal at Kirkintilloch, Climate Emergency training with Keep Scotland Beautiful and takingpart ina traditional signwriting workshop with a Canal College graduate.
The students worked towards a qualification in Cultural Heritage, putting them on the path to careers in outdoor-based jobs like forestry, landscaping and construction. They also gained the John Muir Discovery Award for conservation, the Saltire Award for volunteering and the
Archaeology Scotland Heritage Heroes Silver Award.
Canal College has previously been available across the canal network in West Dunbartonshire and north in Inverness. After being paused during lockdown, the programme has restarted in Falkirk and is currently partnered with Falkirk Canal Connections.
Find out more at Keep Scotland Beautiful [ https:// www. keepscotlandbeautiful.org/about-us/our- campaigns- and- innovations/ canal-college/]
Free training from Go Forth and Clyde
Charity Go Forth and Clyde, based at lock 16 on the Forth& Clyde Canal, has been offering more free training based around the canal at the Falkirk Wheel, in partnership with Scottish Canals.
The Outdoor Activity Leaders autumn training included courses for bike mechanics, first aid for mental health and cycle leader training. The charity gets people involved with the life of the canal through volunteering, free events and workshops, day-hire boat Jaggy Thistle and lock keeping.
Go Forth and Clyde lock keepers have worked around 450 boats up and downthe eastern side of the Forth & Clyde, along a nine-mile stretch of the canal between lock 3at the Kelpies and lock 20 near Banknock. They occasionally venture further afield, having recently taken a solo Finnish skipper and his motor cruiser all the way along the Forth& Clyde to Bowling.
See how you can get involved at goforthandclyde.org.uk