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The Inland Waterways Association Training Award was set up in 2001 to assist with the cost of training in skills associated with inland waterway restoration. Since the early years, restoration projects have gradually become more and more complex, requiring volunteers to operate large machinery, conduct extensive surveys and deal with increasingly demanding legislation, all to the very highest standards. The IWA Training Award reflects this change and aims to promote a more skilled workforce.
The criteria for the award are set deliberately wide and encourage applications from individuals as well as canal societies who may wish to organise training for a group of volunteers. Although there is a list of ‘preferred areas’ (see guidance notes), applications will be accepted for any area of training.
The Award is presented as a bi-annual prize of up to £750. Applications are welcome throughout the year, with deadlines for each award being: 31st March & 30th September.
Any award will be granted to either the restoration group or individual concerned upon proof of expenditure (i.e. copies of receipts, invoices).
Please read the ‘Guidance Notes for Applications’ for further details before completing application form below.
'Guidance Notes for Applications'
A single contact should be given for correspondence. Other people covered by the application (if any) should be listed on the reverse side of the form or as an appendix to it.
Applicants must include full details of the training, not to exceed four sides of A4 paper, which should be enclosed with the application. Applicants are advised to note the list appended to these notes regarding areas the judges feel that are currently lacking. However applications do not have to be in this group. Good opportunities to train in any area should be advanced if good value or other significant benefits to waterway restoration are offered.
We wish to encourage co-operation between different groups involved in waterway restoration. Any submission must have the backing of the management of at least one waterway restoration society. Submissions from several groups working together are encouraged. Submissions from groups that are not specific to a particular site should still have the backing of a restoration society. A suitable letter detailing this support should be enclosed with the application.
The training course should provide a recognised qualification. This would normally be one provided by a recognised training organisation. However, in exceptional circumstances, it may be an "internal" course run by WRG, IWA’s Restoration Committee or any local society should such skills arise and if the judges are satisfied that the results would be beneficial to waterway restoration.
This Award can provide up to 75% of the direct costs (i.e. course costs, travel and accommodation expenses) up to a maximum of £750. Costs should be given as "per person".
These submissions are to be judged twice a year by a small panel of judges appointed by IWA. The award is to be made subject to conditions, including publicity and verification of expenditure that will be detailed upon grant of the award.
The judges’ decision will be subject to ratification by IWA’s Finance and General Purposes Committee, which will be final. IWA reserves the right to not discuss details regarding applications nor to make their reasoning known.
IWA’s Training Award will be granted either to the restoration group or the individual concerned upon proof of the expenditure (such as copies of invoices/receipts/etc).
TO APPLY, PLEASE DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM ABOVE (in pdf format - 6kb) or contact IWA Head Office at the address below.
Return the application form with accompanying details to Jenny Black, IWA Head Office, Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, HP5 1WA.
