Volunteering on the Thames

The Environment Agency is on the lookout for volunteers to help out at some of the many locks on the River Thames during the summer months of 2013.

Volunteer Assistant Lock Keepers are being recruited now to help out at the 45 locks between Lechlade and Teddington, with the stretch of river between Reading and Lechlade in particular need of new volunteers.

Applicants should be able to assist for at least one day per week between May and the end of September – hours can be agreed with specific Lock Keepers but volunteers should be available at least between 11am and 5pm.

Volunteer Assistant Lock Keepers work alongside paid Lock Keepers to help boats pass through a lock safely: taking ropes, directing traffic and operating sluices and lock gates. They help to maintain the site – including painting, tidying and gardening – and they provide information to visitors, so that they can make the best of their time on the river.

For more information about the roles available and what they require, please contact the EA’s Volunteer Team on 01491 828360 or [email protected].