Thames Explorer Trust Goes From Strength To Strength
Organising projects for children to learn about their environment
If you spot a class of children in wellies, intently exploring the Thames foreshore, they are probably taking part in on one of the Thames Explorer Trust's www.thamesexplorer.org.uk innovative programmes.
Now in its 26th year, this small charity, based at Chiswick Pier House, is a great local success story. And now they are expanding to offer new programmes and are looking for more help ( see below)
Lorraine Conterio, the Trust's manager for more than 8 years, helped design and now runs many of its programmes. She says, “Interest in the Thames has never been so high. Bookings in recent years have steadily increased and last year we saw almost 25,000 adults and children learn about everything to do with the Thames, from archaeology to wildlife.”
The new director, Simon Clarke, lives on a Thames Sailing Barge and had for some years heard the sounds of Thames Explorer groups scouring the foreshore beside his boat before joining the Trust. “I have always been passionate about the Thames. We tend to take for granted that we live in one of the greatest cities in the world, with one of the greatest rivers in the world at its heart".
Now the Trust is looking to launch new programmes on the history of engineering on the Thames, from bridges to embankments. Simon believes that “the coming years look to be a really exciting time for the Thames, with new bridges proposed and mayoral initiatives to get commuters back onto boats."
Thames Explorer offers learning activities www.thames-explorer.org.uk/Thames-Education/ throughout the school year. As well as Chiswick Pier, it uses venues along the tidal Thames at Isleworth, at Strand on the Green (working out of a Kew Bridge arch), at Fulham Palace, Southwark, Greenwich, the Museum of London and the Museum of Docklands - and last year it introduced a new programme at the House Mill on the River Lea, the largest tide mill in the world.
Thames Explorer provides training for teachers in river studies and runs summer play schemes, occasional guided walks and family activities walks, some of these in partnership with Chiswick Pier Trust.
The Trust has been supported by generous grants from trusts and foundations, enabling it to develop its resources, with some tailored to the different venues. Themes covered include environmental issues, archaeology, biodiversity, geography and history. The imaginative programmes support the National Curriculum and offer not only visits to the river but also rich material for schools to use in the classroom after a visit. There is a programme for early years groups and with the support of the Port of London Authority, an outreach programme exploring the history of London as a port has been created.
The huge increase in take-up of Thames Explorer learning programmes over the last two years means that it would welcome support from an experienced volunteer who could share the administrative tasks. This would suit someone with admin or educational experience who could offer at least a day a week.
There are two opportunities for new people to become involved in running the Trust. Full details of how to apply for both roles are on the web-site www.thames-explorer.org.uk/work-for-us/work-for-us.
In addition, there are vacancies for two new charity trustees who would serve for at least three years. The Trust would like to hear from you if you could advise upon ways of working more closely with local businesses in the field of corporate social responsibility, if you could bring experience of secondary or adult education, or if you could support the development of a lively social media presence for Thames Explorer.
You can read more about the Trust here
May 24, 2014