Volunteering

The Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal Society organises one volunteering event each month, typically taking place on a weekend.

Activities cover a range of restoration activities such as re-building and re-mortaring walls, vegetation control, putting up signs, re-laying cobbles and repairing fences. You name it, we do it!

Members and non-members are welcome to attend our event, however we ask that you contact us in advance if you plan to attend, so we know how many people to expect and at what time.

Please note, although the work parties are over two days, you can volunteer for just one of the days if you want.

Please see the video below for some of the work done on a previous work party

FAQ’s

What do I need to bring with me?
Enthusiasm, food, suitable clothing, gloves and sturdy boots – and that’s about it. You don’t need any specialist skills, but if you have some, then that’s great.

Brews, food, loos and tools…
Please bring something to eat and drink with you, especially if you are staying all day or if the weather is hot.

Most of our work locations don’t have loos available on site, but pubs and cafes typically allow you to use theirs, if a public loo isn’t nearby.

We supply most tools, but if you want to bring your own, please do so.

Are there any other groups working on the canal that I can volunteer with?
Yes, lots of different groups work with us along different stretches of the canal, such as Little Britain Anglers, Canal & River Trust, Bolton Wildlife Trust, The Conservation Volunteers, and the Canal & River Trust’s Towpath Taskforce. These groups are often out during weekdays so if this suits you better than weekends, contact us and we can put you in touch with them by clicking the links.