Volunteering for businesses, groups and organisations.
Are you a business, group or other organisation that wants to get out and volunteer? Maybe you want to provide a team day, or just want to make a different to a green-blue space near you. Whatever your motivation, read the below and get in touch!
About DCRT
Don Catchment Rivers Trust is an environmental charity and part of the Rivers Trust Movement, a nationwide group of charities that campaign for the conservation and protection of rivers. Our mission is to ensure the river Don and its heritage will be better protected for the future. We achieve our work through donations and funding, and are supported by trustees and volunteers.
The Don Catchment
The Don catchment area covers South Yorkshire, parts of North East Derbyshire and a little bit of Nottinghamshire and West Yorkshire. Our rivers are fed by the water that drains from this catchment. Most rivers start up in the hills of the peak district, flowing downhill to merge with the River Don. The Don eventually joins the River Ouse at Goole before meeting the sea at the Humber estuary. All the rivers in the Don Catchment are connected to each other – our Rivers Trust works to protect all of them.
What to expect at our Volunteer Events
Events usually start at 10am prompt and finish at 1pm, with a short break for refreshments. Other timings can be considered.
- Risk Assessment & Sign-in
We start volunteer days and we talk through our risk assessment for the site and ask all volunteers to sign in. For corporate volunteers who aren’t on our database we ask that you provide an emergency contact phone number in case of an emergency. - Tool Talk
We conduct an informal tool and equipment talk – if you’re unsure about how to use the hand tools please ask our team. - Safety equipment and PPE provided
We request that volunteers wear a hi-vis jacket and gardening gloves, which we provide. Life jackets and steel-toed waders (shoe sizes adult 4-12 available) are provided for any work in the river channel. Our staff are trained in Outdoor First Aid and Open Water Safety.
Refreshments
We normally stop for a refreshment break at 11.30am – we provide hot drinks and biscuits. Let us know in advance if you have any dietary requirements (e.g. vegan, gf).
What to wear
- Please wear clothing suitable for outdoor work, that you’d don’t mind getting messy.
- Bring a waterproof in case it rains.
- Due to the risk of sharps, we request volunteers wear sturdy boots, such as walking boots, rather than trainers/plimsolls. We can lend steel-toed wellingtons to any volunteers that don’t have the right footwear.
- In the rare event of anyone slipping over in the river, we have a spare clothes bag, but you may prefer to bring your own emergency kit of spare clothes.
What to bring
- Any medication you may need on the day
- Water or a cold drink.
- Packed Lunch for after the event if you require it.
Social Media
We love to see photos of your time with us!
Please feel free to tag us.
Donations
Want to make a donation to DCRT? Click the link below.
Activities
Himalayan Balsam Removal
Help us remove invasive species that have escaped into the wild. The plant Himalayan Balsam erodes riverbanks and dominates riversides, out-competing other plants and wildflowers. It can be pulled up, crushed and removed during the months of May-July before it flowers and spreads further.
River Clean-up
Help to remove large items that have been lost or disposed of in the river. We work together to pull out trollies, tyres, traffic cones and bikes that make their way into the waterways. We also remove litter that has made its way downstream.
Natural Flood Management
Help us ‘slow the flow’ of water into rivers during high rainfall. We work with natural processes to store excess rainwater, for example we create new wetland areas that soak up rain and build ‘leaky-dams’ in streams which hold back high water. Although small in scale, many of these simple measures work together to make a big difference.
Litter-picking
Help make riversides clean and safe for people and wildlife by litter-picking footpaths and public green spaces. We can remove up to 30-50 bags of rubbish per litter-pick which is disposed of or sent for recycling.
