Marsh Charitable Trust – Marsh Young Volunteer Award with the Canal & River Trust

Marsh Young Volunteer Award with the Canal & River Trust

This Award is run in partnership with the Canal and River Trust.

The Award recognises 6 young volunteers throughout the UK who have made a valuable contribution to the Canal and River Trust and is an opportunity to thank outstanding volunteers. These volunteers contribute their time and skills which are a huge asset to the organisation.

Nominations for the Award are submitted to the Canal and River Trust and are judged by a panel consisting of Canal and River Trust and MCT representatives.

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Laura Bruccian, Charlie Hannaford, Toluwalase Odesina, Luke Carey, Poppy Greaves, Ella Campbell, and Sania Ahmed 2026

Laura Bruccian – East Midlands

Laura is a highly committed young volunteer who regularly supports conservation and maintenance work at Foxton Locks, Leicestershire. She gives her time consistently alongside education, often increasing her involvement during holidays. Laura has developed a wide range of practical skills while supporting tasks such as coppicing, habitat work, and site improvements. Her enthusiasm and reliability make her a positive influence within volunteer groups and on-site activities.

Charlie Hannaford – West Midlands

Charlie is a proactive young volunteer who supports towpath taskforce activities across the West Midlands. He regularly takes part in physically demanding work including large litter picks, lock scraping, and maintenance projects. Charlie has also contributed specialist skills to the Waste Shark project, supporting data analysis and monitoring work. His enthusiasm, adaptability, and constructive role within an established volunteer group have made a positive impact in a short period of time.

Toluwalase Odesina – London and South East

Toluwalase is an active and reliable member of the Youth Fellowship Programme, consistently contributing time, ideas, and enthusiasm. He plays a positive role in group discussions, helping shape activities and encouraging others to take part. Through regular attendance and preparation, Toluwalase has developed confidence and leadership skills over time. His thoughtful approach and steady commitment make him a valued and respected young volunteer within the programme.

Luke Carey – North West

Luke is a dedicated young volunteer who regularly supports conservation and maintenance work as part of the Happy Mondays Roaming Team. He contributes around two days a week, taking on a wide range of tasks including painting, repairs, litter picking, and vegetation clearance. Luke has also played an active role in the mural project, helping prepare surfaces and contributing creatively to the design. His enthusiasm, hard work, and willingness to learn have made him a valued member of multiple volunteering projects.

Poppy Greaves – Yorkshire and North East

Poppy is a reliable young volunteer who supports weekly conservation activity at Salterhebble, West Yorkshire. She undertakes a variety of tasks, including feeding wildlife, gardening, towpath maintenance, and craft activities using natural materials. Poppy also supports and encourages other volunteers, helping build confidence and inclusion within the group. Her steady commitment, positive attitude, and willingness to take on any task have made her a valued member of the team.

Ella Campbell – Wales and South West

Ella is a recent graduate who quickly became an active and valued member of the Fish Pass Volunteer Team on the River Severn, helping with the conservation of endangered fish populations. She supports the maintenance and operation of four fish passes, helping keep sites safe, functional, and accessible to the public. Ella regularly takes part in challenging tasks, including flood clean-ups, inspections, and seasonal restoration work, while completing additional training to broaden her skills. Her practical knowledge, reliability, and strong problem-solving approach have made a positive difference in a short period of time.

Sania Ahmed – National Teams

Sania is a Youth Fellowship volunteer who has taken a leading role in shaping the programme and its social innovation project. Nominated by her peers to lead, she confidently works with staff, volunteers, and partners, sharing skills and supporting others. Sania brings enthusiasm, maturity, and a strong commitment to connecting young people and communities with nature and waterways.

Previous Winners

Liam Paling, Jack Carter, Hannah Gazey, Eve Ingle, and Peter Brookwalker

EAST MIDLANDS

Liam Paling

Liam joined the Trust as a work experience placement last year and was able to join practical activities with the South Leicester Taskforce as well as joining the ecology team. Since then, he has continued his volunteering with the Trust attending events during the school holidays and he has become a valued and enthusiastic member of the team. At weekends Liam spends his time litter picking along the towpath and in the wider community.

WEST MIDLANDS

Jack Carter

Jack has been volunteering with his dad as a Lock Keeper in Hatton from the age of 16 for 8 years. In addition to his lock keeping Jack has been involved in the creation of a wildlife meadow on site at Hatton. With support from our ecology team Jack and the other volunteers have created a site rich in biodiversity and flowers for pollinators. He also provides support to the operations team and will join them on reactive works doing whatever is needed on the day. Jack now volunteers 3 or 4 days a week and his involvement and dedication to the Trust continues to go from strength to strength.

NORTH WEST

Hannah Gazey

Hannah began as a university placement student supporting the community development team and chose to continue volunteering, supporting school visits and events with enthusiasm and skill. She quickly became one of the few confident enough to lead primary school lock demonstrations, making them fun and safe. Her initiative, energy, and understanding of safeguarding have reinvigorated the volunteer team. Despite her academic commitments, she gave countless hours and earned a first-class honours degree. Hannah is a shining example of dedication and passion, and a true role model for future volunteers.

YORKSHIRE AND NORTH EAST

Eve Ingle

Eve is a vibrant and hardworking young volunteer at Brookfoot Lock, making a big impact on the Calder & Hebble Navigation. She tackles every task with enthusiasm, from painting to litter picking, and is quick to spot and report maintenance issues. Her infectious energy and eagerness inspire both young and older volunteers alike. Eve’s commitment and positivity bring life to the towpath, whatever the weather. She’s a shining example of how passion and initiative can make a real difference.

NATIONAL TEAMS

Peter Brookwalker

Peter has been nominated for his work supporting the People Team over the last year. He has proved invaluable supporting new recruits to the Trust with their onboarding and inductions process, ensuring they have induction plans in place. He has also provided support with essential data cleansing and organisation related to staff training records. This will lay the groundwork for effective training needs analysis, skills sharing and cost-effective training budget management.

Adam Kearsley, Antonia Geldard, Cameron Fletcher, George Dunn, and Peter Brookwalker

NORTH WEST

Adam Kearsley

Adam is currently a student at Myerscough College and contacted the Trust directly to become a volunteer. He has shown fantastic commitment to his volunteering role and has fitted in to the Chorley Towpath Taskforce team superbly. Adam picks up tasks extremely well and has developed a number of skills including dry stone walling, towpath repairs, hedge laying and canal lock operation. His commitment has led to a partnership between his College and the Trust to encourage more students to volunteer and promote courses relating to the work of the Canal and River Trust.

YORKSHIRE AND NORTH EAST

Antonia Geldard

Antonia first joined Selby Towpath Taskforce when she was 15 as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Award and continues to support the group twice a week three years later. She has a wonderful ability to get along with everyone, connecting with others on a range of topics from books, films and television to using cloud patterns to predict the weather. She brings so much energy to the group, sharing her perspective and eagerly learning from others. Antonia will soon leave the area to head to university but has been a real asset to the team and made a lasting impact.

EAST MIDLANDS

Cameron Fletcher

Cameron has been fantastic support to the Beeston Towpath Taskforce, carrying out weeding, painting, removal of fly tipping and gardening in the area. He enthusiastically tackles tasks such as digging out the roots of sycamore saplings and the intricate painting of a historic water level gauge. Cameron has been volunteering since April 2023, and the team have seen him go from strength to strength as a valued and hardworking member of the team. He has set an ambition to develop his painting and decorating skills and has continued to volunteer while also working at nearby Beeston Marina.

WEST MIDLANDS

George Dunn

George has been volunteering since 2022 and has shown incredible enthusiasm in taking on a whole range of new experiences to grow his knowledge and confidence. He is now an accomplished and skilled member of the operational team, carrying out preventative maintenance, installing fences, tackling windblown trees and continues to develop his learning, becoming a Helmsperson to operate workboats and support the team even further. He is a fantastic Ambassador for the Trust and has been a great support for festive events, assisting the public and keeping everyone safe.

LONDON AND SOUTH EAST

Peter Brookwalker

Peter started volunteering at Drop-In sessions and quickly established himself in the team, taking on new challenges as part of the Enfield Boat Crew and even training as a Lock Keeper during his exams. Peter is a friendly, engaging and reliable volunteer who encourages everyone. He has turned his skills to everything from learning new computer systems, to supporting the training of new volunteers, developing social media content and practical tasks like painting, graffiti removal and litter and debris removal. Peter enjoys encouraging others to volunteer for the Trust and follow his example.