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Voluntary Helpers
We Need You! |
The Trust is run by the Trust Administrator and a
Maintenance Engineer who are supported by over 90
Voluntary Helpers. Our Voluntary Helpers can be involved
in various different roles including Boat Turnarounds, Day
Trips and Fundraising, although most kindly partake in a
variety of these roles when they can.
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We are always looking for more people to help
and support us.
It’s fun, anyone can do it and there’s always a
cuppa and piece of cake available!
Why not come and join our friendly team in the
knowledge that your efforts contribute directly
to the enjoyment of disabled, disadvantaged or
elderly people?
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Boat Turnarounds
This is the main area of our work that requires
Voluntary Helpers. For each week from March to October,
on the following days and times:
Fridays @ Great Bedwyn 9-11am
Saturdays @ Great Bedwyn 9-11am
Sundays @ Lower Foxhanger 9:30-11:30am
 We
need for each boat:-
1 Team Leader
2 Engineers
2 Inside Cleaners
1 Outside Cleaner
In addition at each Boat Turnaround we require
1 Base Manager to oversee the morning and 1 Pump Out
Person.
Together, each team helps the previous week’s group off
the boat, cleans the boat inside and out, pumps out the W.C.s and maintains the engine, before the Team Leader
then sees the new group aboard.
Upon joining our team, you will be provided with a
Welcome Pack to guide you through each role and a Bruce
Trust polo shirt so you can be proud to be identified as a Voluntary
Helper. The Trust Administrator will join you for your
first morning at the Wharf, to introduce you to everyone
and show you how it all works.
Day Trips
The Bruce Trust provides a crew of one Skipper and two
Crew Members for each day trip. The days usually run
from 10:30am to 4:00pm with our crew arriving at the
Wharf by 9:45am to prepare the boat. In order to be a
Skipper for our day crews, it is essential you have
experience managing the boat and have attended a CCBM
(Certificate in Community Boat Management) training
course. The other two crew members need experience on
Bruce Trust boats.
Fundraising
As a non-profit organisation it is entirely due to our
dedicated team of Voluntary Helpers that we are able to
keep our hire charges to a minimum. However, while hire
charges do cover the basic everyday charges such as
fuel, insurance, licensing and mooring charges, there
are inevitably hidden costs that crop up each year such as general
repairs, new parts, painting
the boats, surveys etc. In light of this and the fact
that we are often working on specific projects to expand
and further improve The Bruce Trust, fundraising events
are regularly held, many of which are organised
and attended by our Voluntary Helpers. See our
Fundraising page for further information on how you can
help us.
Volunteer Testimonials
My husband, David, wanted to do something in the
community to help out - but as we have a young family -
what could he do that might involve the children too as
weekends with the family are precious these days? The
Bruce Trust was the answer and David signed up to
volunteer on Saturday mornings at Bedwyn wharf with our
eldest son George- who was only 5½ at the
time. Both were warmly welcomed along and while David
was given jobs cleaning the outside of the boat - George
was given very important - but slightly safer tasks
indoors - like polishing the brass and cleaning the
windows. George loved wearing the lifejacket which made
him feel like a proper sailor! Other volunteers were so
kind to him and made sure he was involved. George's
favourite part of the morning was of course the tea
break and I'm sorry to say he got a reputation for being
greedy with the lardy cake! Consequently George was
given the task of going with one of the adult team to go
to buy the lardy cake from the bakery each week. One of
the highlights for George was going on the annual
volunteer barge trip when he got to hold the tiller for
a little while! What lovely memories for George to have.
Father and son helped out for two years; what a shame
Saturday mornings began to get full of other important
things like swimming lessons and now school so that for
a few years George cannot volunteer for the Bruce Trust.
But one day I hope, as a teenager, he will be able to
volunteer once again and revisit his sailor days!
Karina Nicholson
I saw an advert, and there was something about messing
about on boats, and helping others that appealed. I
really look forward to helping, and everyone is so
friendly
Rachel Martin
I help The Bruce Trust because it makes a real
difference to the lives of less fortunate people and
their families. I enjoy working with the other Voluntary
Helpers and I have made friendships
with them and the clients of the Trust. It is an
enjoyable way of doing something which I feel is
valuable and useful to those less fortunate than myself.
Paul Eames
I really enjoy volunteering for the Bruce Trust as it is
a very enriching experience where you learn to work as a
team and get to know different people from different
backgrounds. Everyone is really friendly and it has a
great working atmosphere. Words cannot describe the
feeling when you see the customers getting so excited as
they board the boats. It clearly does have a huge impact
on their lives and I love being part of that.
Sophie Evans
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We Need You!
To find out more about joining our team of Voluntary
Helpers, visit our Volunteer page or contact Rebecca
Bruce on:
01264 356451
To find out how you can help us fundraise without it
costing you a penny, visit our Fundraising page or
contact Rebecca Bruce on: 01264 356451
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