Thames Team Project
What is the Thames Team Project?
The Thames Team Project is a joint initiative,
funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation,
between the Thames Explorer Trust and Thames
21. The aim of the Project is to recruit and
train a pool of volunteers, who can help river
related organisations carry out improvements to
London's waterways and learn more about this environment
in the process.
Why have a Thames Team?
Through successful involvement of community groups
and volunteers in schemes such as Thames21's
'Adopt a River' , and the Thames Explorer
Trust's 'River for Life', it has become clear
that local communities are becoming more proactive
in the management and improvement of their river
environments. It is through the enthusiasm of
the current volunteer force & local communities
that the Thames Team has evolved as a way of formulating
a strategy for recruiting and training volunteers
to get involved in more diverse projects along
London's Waterways.
What sort of opportunities for projects and
volunteering are there?
Following on from the successes of the 'Adopt
a River' and 'River for Life' programmes, there
is scope for many more volunteering projects for
local communities to get involved with. Examples
include leading the Adopt a River and River for
Life schemes in certain areas, helping out on
community art projects, carrying out practical
habitat management and environmental improvements,
and liaising with community outreach workers to
help minority groups become more actively involved
in river related activities. Thames Team aims
to work with existing organisations to identify
more opportunities along London's waterways for
volunteers.
What will Thames Team do for potential volunteers?
Volunteering is an increasingly popular activity,
it can provide a social platform for communities
to engage with their local environment, provide
valuable work experience in a gap year or between
jobs. Through Thames Team people can work in the
outdoors, gain useful training and help communities
improve their local surroundings. Some volunteers
may want to help on odd days throughout the year,
others may want regular involvement on specific
projects, volunteering through Thames Team will
provide flexibility according to people's needs.
What will Thames Team do for river related
organisations and community groups?
Volunteers add value to organisations by performing
a wide range of supportive roles, contributing
time, flexibility and specialist skills. Thames
Team can provide advice and expertise to river
related organisations and community organisations
in identifying and developing opportunities for
the recruitment and training volunteers to help
with projects along the Thames and its Tributaries.
Back
to Top
|
