Yorkshire & North East announce new faces
Caroline Schwaller MBE is the new chair of the regional advisory board and Sean McGinley is new regional director for Yorkshire & North East.
With record levels of support from volunteers and more than 27 million visits per year, the region’s waterways are a hive of activity and hugely important to local communities. As part of the next phase of the charity’s transformation, Caroline and Sean will focus on encouraging and aiding more of the region’s residents to benefit from the canals and rivers that are on their doorsteps.
Recent research by the Canal & River Trust revealed that spending time by water can significantly improve health and wellbeing, so places such as the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, Tees Barrage, Calder & Hebble Navigation, Sheffield & Tinsley Canal and many others, could help combat ever-increasing rates of obesity, diabetes, stress and anxiety. The region’s waterways are also home to 21 conservation areas and four sites of special scientific interest, making them great for wildlife too.
The waterways and wellbeing charity believes that its numerous projects, activities and highlights in the region, including the coast-to-cast Desmond Family Canoe Trail (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/specialist-teams/youth-engagement/the-desmond-family-canoe-trail), Green Flag sites such as Pocklington and Ripon canals, and improved freight access along the Aire & Calder Navigation to Leeds, will further enhance the importance and appeal of inland waterways in the area.
About the appointments:
Caroline Schwaller MBE has over 30 years’ experience in the voluntary sector, with previous positions including CEO of KIVCA (Keighley and Ilkley Voluntary and Community Action) and chair of the Bradford District Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Assembly. Committed to collaboration, creative solutions, addressing inequality, and demonstrating the value of charities she is currently chair of NAVCA (national membership body for local sector support and development organisations), and a trustee of The Craven Trust (a small grant making charity in North Yorkshire), Veolia Environmental Trust, and Hidden Voices Kenya.
Caroline says: “I have many happy memories of canal holidays so I know how wonderful it is to spend time by or on the water. I’m looking forward to helping more people across Yorkshire and the north east get to know their local canal and find out how it can benefit them.”
Sean McGinley grew up in Yorkshire and started his waterways career 16 years ago. A chartered civil engineer, he has worked in management and engineering posts on waterways including the Chesterfield, Grantham and Erewash Canals, and the River Trent. He is passionate about the impact and importance of volunteering, and has spent time in Africa as a volunteer overseeing the planning and construction of roads.
Sean says: “I’m proud to take up this role and lead our regional team in helping people across Yorkshire and the north east discover how canals and rivers can make a real difference to their lives. I will be ensuring we work at a local level within the communities we serve, so we can deliver meaningful wellbeing benefits and support all users, whether they’re on the water or the towpath.”
The regional advisory board chair position is voluntary for an initial term of three years. The boards will be initially formed of committed volunteers who served in the previous waterway partnerships.
