Accessible Boating Thames is entirely run by volunteers who come from all walks of life with different skills and interests. Many of our volunteers have had boats on the Thames or the coast and some have come to us having sailed in their early life.
Because of the range of activities we provide we have many volunteering opportunities, both on the water and on shore including paddling, sailing and power boating.
Our paddling activity using bellboats requires helms, additional crew for propulsion, safety boat helms and crews and shore side to help manage the schools and families that come for activities.
On the sailing side we again require safety boat helms and crews for each session, as well as shore support to help with rigging and recovery and vitally buddies who have sailing experience to sit alongside clients and help them sail the NEO keelboat.
We use a wheelyboat for motor boating which has a drop front to allow passengers to roll or walk aboard which is particularly suitable for those who are unsteady or use walking aids as well and manual and electric wheelchairs. Each trip requires a helm and crew and we run sessions both weekends and weekdays throughout the summer for families, care homes and other groups as well as using it for the schools paddling days for pupils who don’t want to go in a bellboat.
Our onshore activities include launching the boats at the beginning of the season, sessions to maintain the boats and our equipment during the summer and lifting and cleaning the boats and equipment at the end.
We welcome volunteers with any or no experience (it’s never too late to learn) and our partner the Bisham Abbey Sailing School can run courses for any of the qualifications we require.
Wheelyboat helms require either an RYA Powerboat 2 certificate or Inland Waterways Helm Certificate (IWHC) to take charge of the boat as well as some experience as crew, particularly for loading the boat and our local locks. Crews can go on trips with experienced helms and learn how to pass through locks as well as having a steer of the boat under the eye of the helm to gain experience.
Sailing buddies need experience in dinghy sailing or large boat sailing – an RYA sailing certificate is useful but if not we can run a short appraisal after some practice. Some of our participants have experience or want to participate and others just enjoy being on the water.
The NEO handles like a very stable dinghy so sailors who are less agile will still find it easy to be a buddy and pass on their skills.
Bellboat Helms require a British Canoeing Bellboat Helm certificate which is a one day course which ABT can organise and would be easy for anyone who has paddled a kayak.
Wheelyboat crews, Bellboat crews and shore crews can join us with no experience and learn during our sessions.
To find out more information please use our contact form and we will arrange to invite you down and show you around.
We do not require a regular or fixed commitment from our volunteers who are free to work as much or as little as fits in with their interests and other activities. As all our volunteers share a common interest in boating and help others it creates a friendly and social environment which includes that annual BBQ.
If you are interested to learn more about volunteering with Accessible Boating Thames please contact us.