Work a lock as a volunteer lock keeper
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Volunteer lock keepers help boaters through historic locks, welcome visitors to the towpath and look after the site with jobs such as painting and cutting back overgrowth. The Canal & River Trust ideally asks for a day a week over the summer season, and most sites work in pairs.
ModerateFreeMonthsOutdoorsWith othersUKSummer boating season
How to start
- Read the Canal & River Trust volunteer lock keeper page and download its information sheet.
- Look through the open roles listed on the page for a lock you can reach.
- Apply through the volunteer portal listing for that site.
Where to go
We opened this link on 8 October 2026 and found it to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. A habit needs a fixed slot in the week more than a plan, so the planner gives it one and checks in gently.
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