The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust (KACT) are calling for volunteers along the length of the canal to help complete five million pounds of vital work. High on the list is Crofton pumping station – one of the Marlborough area’s prime tourist attractions – which needs large-scale and urgent support.
The Trust’s chairman-designate, Rob Dean, explains that this is not a traditional plea for funds: ‘We want to harness the skills, talent and ability’ of all those living along the canal to help take the eighty-seven mile long waterway into the twenty-first century.
Every hour contributed by a KACT volunteer equates, on average, to a £25 donation. That means the £5 million target needs 40,000 hours of promised volunteer time – hours that meet the specific needs of each part of the canal development programme.
Crofton needs volunteers with engineering skills and experience, volunteers to work in the pumping station’s café, fundraisers and volunteers with project management skills to oversee plans for a new visitors’ centre.
The long-term plan is to turn Crofton into a major visitors’ attraction and an educational destination for school and college visits.
Volunteers should go to the Trust’s website and follow the pop-up. Or they can email volunteering@katrust.org.uk