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Volunteers Step Out on Walsall’s Waterways!
The Birchills bridge stretch (Walsall Top Lock) of Walsall’s waterway network have been transformed as a team of unemployed volunteers from local training charity Steps to Work descended on the Town Wharfs canals and towpaths.
Posted on 11 August 2009.
Armed with cans of paint and litter picks, 10 unemployed local residents of Walsall have been busy making the most vulnerable section of the Walsall canal cleaner and tidier by maintaining the locks, gates, bridges and towpaths. The worst effected stretch of the canal blighted by vandalism and neglect , has now been revamped and maintained thanks to the Steps to Work volunteers. They managed to use 45 litres of paint and fill 10 large bags of rubbish and weeds. This project has been successful thanks to the partnership between Steps to Work and British Waterways.
Paul Cartright, British Waterways Operative said, “The team from Steps to Work have willingly wanted to help with the maintenance of the worst part of the Walsall canal. They have made an invaluable contribution to the local community. We are looking forward to continuing the scheme throughout the coming months”
Nicky Matthews Steps to Work Project Officer explained, “This scheme was set up to help these unemployed people gain confidence and gain experience in working as part of a team. They have gained new skills and improved on existing skills such as communication and confidence building. The team have all worked really hard to preserve and maintain a beautiful area of the Walsall canal.”
Steps to Work volunteers are looking forward to starting maintenance works on the Rushall canal in the next coming weeks.
“It’s important for unemployed people like us who are desperate to find work to keep our skills alive and to show the community what we can do. We don’t want to be sat at home waiting for our benefits each week, we want to all get out there and prove that we can be successful and achieve something.” commented Peter Bott, Steps to Work volunteer .
For more information on British Waterways visit:
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