New volunteers are always welcome

The John Bunyan Community Boat is entirely run by volunteers who are central to the success of the overall project by raising our profile with the public in Bedford and providing The Trust’s source of income.  To keep our cruises running and delivering an outstanding experience to over 7,000 guests throughout the season is a fantastic team achievement involving many volunteers both onboard and onshore, as well as within our Operations Management Team.

We’re recruiting NOW for volunteers to support John Bunyan Boat cruising. Join our warm and welcoming, group of volunteers who make the John Bunyan Boat possible.

We are recruiting the following roles:

Onboard:

Cabin Crew

Volunteer cabin crew fulfil an important role; they are the ambassadors of the Trust, who attend to the needs of our passengers, ensuring that their experience on the John Bunyan is comfortable, enjoyable and safe.

Key tasks include setting up the cabin before the trip, welcoming customers on board, serving drinks and snacks, giving information about the boat and the BMK Waterway Trust, and ensuring the galley and cabin are clean and ready for the next cruise.

Ideally cabin crew volunteers should be able to commit to at least 2 shifts of 4-6 hours per month from April until October. Full training, including boat safety procedures, will be given.

Deck Crew

Deck crew are important members of the John Bunyan crew. They have responsibility for the safety of passengers boarding or alighting from the boat, securing the boat at moorings, operating locks and providing a look-out at the front of the boat, warning the helm via radio communication of any dangers, or other craft.

Key tasks include setting up the safety and operating equipment at the start of the cruise, taking lines ashore and securing the boat, operating the locks and maintaining a forward look-out whilst the boat is in motion. At the end of the cruise they are responsible for stowing all equipment safely, and securing the boat.

Ideally deck crew volunteers should be able to commit to at least 2 shifts of 4-6 hours per month from April until October. Full training, including boat safety procedures, will be given.

Qualified Boatmaster

The Boatmaster is a volunteer who is licensed by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, who has overall responsibility for all legal and safety aspects of the boat whilst passengers are on board. It is a key safety role, and a position of responsibility.

Most of our Boatmaster have started as cabin or deck crew, and undertaken MCA training during their time as a volunteer. We also seek volunteers who have qualified elsewhere and hold a Boatmasters Licence issued by the MCA.

Volunteers Boatmasters should be able to commit to at least 3 shifts of 4-6 hours per month from April until October. Full familiarization of the boat, and the BMK Waterway Trust, will be part of the induction process.

Operations Management Team:

Cabin Operations Manager

The Cabin Operations Manager has overall responsibility for customer care and refreshment services in the cabin, leading the Purser team who crew on cruises and assist with stock control etc.

The role covers the selection, training and management of the Purser team, oversight of the stock control and purchasing activity of the deep cleaning team. The Cabin Operations Manager is responsible for decisions about the catering offer on cruises, merchandising and pricing.

The Cabin Operations Manager is supported by up to 10 Pursers, some of whom are responsible for deep cleaning and stock purchasing. The Bookings Administrator also supports the Cabin Operations Manager in managing liaison with external caterers and managing the stock control system.

The role can be combined with a crew role on the boat, or as a separate, land-based role. The role takes about 5-6 hours per week.

Shore-based:

Event volunteers

We are always looking for volunteers to help us at events to help sell tickets, promote the John Bunyan Boat or recruit volunteers.

If you are interested and are willing to offer some of your time to our community enterprise then we would love to hear from you, so please get in touch to find out more.

The John Bunyan Community Boat is crewed by five or six volunteers on each trip and we are always looking for enthusiastic individuals to join our team both on and off the water.

 If you are interested in finding out more about volunteering roles please get in touch by emailing Janet Goodland at volunteering@johnbunyanboat.org