Sign up to Earth Day 2025

The Paddington Partnership is inviting companies in Paddington to join our annual mass canal clean-up in aid of Earth Day. This year, we will be scaling up our efforts to improve the waterway along the Grand Union Canal and Little Venice by hosting clean-ups across two dates on Thursday 24 April and Tuesday 29 April 2025.

Whether your company is a familiar face on the canal, or new to volunteering we hope the below Q&A will help give you an overview on the event, top tips for when you are out on the water and the impact you will have on the local environment.

What is involved in a canal clean-up?

Volunteers will head out on an electric GoBoat from Paddington Basin along the Grand Union and Little Venice Canal to remove litter from the waterway. Your team will be removing surface little and material trapped in vegetation along the bank. This can be anything from crisp packets, bottles, cans to unusual items such as footballs and watermelons!

What dates are you running the canal clean-up?

Thursday 24 April and Tuesday 29 April. We have availability for one boat per company and each boat has capacity for up to eight volunteers (including the driver). There are time slots at 9.30am, 12 noon and 3pm on both days. Boats will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Where do we meet?

All teams will meet at the GoBoat kiosk in Merchant Square. The full address is Merchant Square, Paddington Basin, W2 1AS.

How long will my team be on the water?

Every team will be on the GoBoats, litter picking for one hour. At the start of your time slot you will need to sign in and join the welcome and safety briefing. You should allow for up to two hours out of the office for the briefing, time on the water, disposing of litter at the end of your trip, and of course the all-important team photo.

What area will we cover?

You will be given a map and suggested route as part of the briefing. You will start at Paddington Basin, travel past Gail's and the Paddington station canalside exit, Paddington Central and into Little Venice.

What do I wear?

Please wear flat shoes and comfortable clothing that you don’t mind getting wet or muddy. It can be cold during the event, so we recommend wearing warm layers and a waterproof jacket.

Do I need to bring anything?

The Paddington Partnership will equip your team with litter pickers, nets, bin bags and disposable gloves. We recommend that you bring a pair of washing up gloves to wear during the event. We have found that washing up gloves work best at repelling water and offering better grip when handling litter.

Each boat will be equipped with a map, and a safety card.

Hand sanitizer is available throughout the event.

Where can I store my belongings?

There sadly isn’t anywhere to store your bags or coats during the event, so it’s best to leave these at your company’s office.

What if there is wet weather?

This event will go ahead as planned unless there is extreme weather such as snow, thunderstorms or if the wind reaches over 23 miles per hour. In this instance, we will look to rescheduling the event. If there is wet weather, rain ponchos will be provided by The Paddington Partnership.

Who will be driving the boat?

One colleague from each company will take on the role of ‘Captain’ and will be responsible for driving the boat. On the day, the ‘Captain’ will receive an additional briefing from GoBoat staff, which will include reviewing the route you will take and driving instructions. Please don’t worry, each GoBoat goes at a maximum speed of 4 miles per hour.

What happens to the rubbish after the event?

Once you return to the GoBoat kiosk, we will direct your team to a large bin where we will be disposing of the rubbish. This is then collected by Veolia.

Can I bring food onto the GoBoat?

Volunteers are welcome to bring a bottle of water onto the GoBoat, however we strongly advise against bringing food and other drinks as you will be handling litter. All volunteers must thoroughly wash their hands after handling litter.

Alcohol is strictly prohibited. Smoking or vaping is not permitted during the event.

Is GoBoat accessible?

The pontoon leading to the GoBoats is accessible, however there is a step down into the boats. If any volunteers require additional assistance, do let a member of staff at The Paddington Partnership know in advance.

Are lifejackets provided?

Life jackets are available from GoBoat, and volunteers are welcome to wear these during the event.

If a volunteer falls into the canal, please immediately dial 999. Do not go into the water after your colleague as the water is cold and this is extremely dangerous. All volunteers will receive a safety briefing at the start of the event.

Are dogs allowed?

Yes! We encourage volunteers to bring their four-legged friends along. Due to space, we kindly ask that teams only bring one dog per boat and let us know in advance so we can plan accordingly and take lots of photos.

Will there be a photographer at the event?

We will have a professional photographer at both Earth Day events to capture each team with their litter haul. These images will be shared with you for use on LinkedIn posts, newsletters etc. (with the consent of your colleagues). You are welcome to take your own photos, but please check that colleagues are happy to be photographed. We cannot take responsibility for phones or cameras damaged whilst you are participating in this activity.

What happens after I register for the event?

Once you tell us you would like to book a boat (using the Register Here button below), one of our team will be back in touch to confirm the date and time of your booking. At the start of April we’ll send over a briefing document and risk assessment for your team. This covers all the information you will need. In return we’ll need the names of your team members, emergency contact details for everyone (in the very unlikely event of an incident during the event) and for the driver to complete an electronic waiver. We can't wait for you to join us on the water!