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Putting Swingbridge In The Picture

Margaret Reeder, who manages two boats operated by a Surrey charity and various activities associated with them, has gained many skills, from fundraising to removing riverweed from boat engines.

Margaret has also taken hundreds of photographs of the Surrey Care Trust’s two Swingbridge boats, which spend time on the River Thames in Surrey, the Basingstoke Canal in Woking, and the River Wey in Guildford.

The Swingbridge programme gives people the opportunity to learn a range of new skills,, including crewing and boat management.

The main activity based on the boats is environmental work along the waterways and nearby parks, nature reserves and other green space. People who take part can gain nationally-accredited certificates, recognising the skills they have acquired.

Now Mrs Reeder’s skills as a photographer have been officially recognised! Her picture of Swingbridge volunteer Lorraine Bryant was awarded first prize in a volunteering photography competition organised by Woking Association of Voluntary Service (WAVS).

The winning picture shows Lorraine painting a bollard along the St John’s flight of locks near Woking during 2009, as part of the busy Swingbridge programme of work.

WAVS director Sylvie Marshall, who was one of the competition judges, said she loved the naturalness of the image of Lorraine hard at work: “For me it was the simplicity of it. It didn’t look staged, it was just somebody getting on with something.”

Lorraine Bryant, third from left, pictured with other Swingbridge volunteers - Some volunteers involved in Swingbridge

Some volunteers become involved in Swingbridge because they are unemployed and want to learn new skills to improve their employability, while some may be recovering from illness or a crisis in their lives, and benefit from the supportive environment of being part of a team. Many long-term volunteers join Swingbridge because they are retired and want to do something rewarding with their time which benefits the wider community.