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Truman Enterprise Narrowboat Trust

Helping young people to have fun afloat by offering day and residential trips for youth groups on board their narrowboats 'H F Truman' and 'A J Felgate' as well as day trips for people with special needs on board the narrowboat 'Walsall Enterprise'

Based on the Hatherton Branch of the Staffs and Worcs Canal the Truman Enterprise Narrowboat Trust is a non-profit making organisation and Registered Charity (No.1037914) - Their boats are moored at Hatherton Marina, Queens Road, Calf Heath, Nr. Cannock WV10 7DT - MAP

Organisations that have used the boats include youth clubs, schools and community groups from Walsall, the West Midlands and surrounding counties.

The Truman Enterprise Narrowboat Trust is supported by Walsall MBC and is a member of the National Community Boats Association.

The Aims and Objectives of the Truman Enter rise Narrowboat Trust is to provide narrowboats for young people to be actively involved in educational and recreational pursuits on the canals and waterways of England and Wales; encourage social inclusion by providing a unique opportunity for young people to live and work together in a supportive atmosphere; enable users to acquire important social skills and learn the value of teamwork; provide a first hand opportunity for young people to experience an important part of their cultural heritage; provide a very real vehicle for facilitating environmental education; promote a greater awareness and understanding of the place of inland waterways in our environment and history, and to encourage and foster respectful use of local canals as a recreational amenity for everyone.

The project began in 1965, under the auspices of the Walsall Youth Leaders Council, who set out to raise money to build a narrowboat for the young people of the town. Through many successful sponsored events by youth clubs and other organisations sufficient money was raised. The original wooden 'H.F. Truman' was built by Peter Keay and Son of Walsall and launched in September 1968 as a purpose-built boat to carry groups of young people. After completion a Trust was set up and a Management Committee appointed for operational purposes.

Following the success of the operation, in 1971 Walsall M.B.C. asked the Truman Committee to run a second narrowboat named the 'Usk' alongside the 'Truman'.

The 'Usk' was replaced in 1992 by a new steel boat named the 'A.J.Felgate'. For over 30 years the young people of Walsall and its environs benefited from living and travelling on the boats. This pioneering project has inspired many similar ventures across the United Kingdom.

After 30 years of service to the Youth and Community of Walsall the original 'Truman' needed replacing. A fund-raising sub-committee was set up with a target of raising sufficient funds to commission a modern steel narrowboat. Local companies were approached and a successful bid for £50,000 was made to the National Lottery Charities Board under their youth issues programme. In March 1997 the Trust took delivery of a new boat and after consultations with user groups fitting out was undertaken in Wolverhampton. At an inauguration and naming ceremony on 14th September 1997 the new boat took over the 'H.F. Truman' name and the old boat was sold locally under a new name.

The new 'Truman' began operations in 1998 to accompany the 'A.J. Felgate' which continues in service. The usual week-end trip is from Calf Heath to Norbury Junction on the Shropshire Union Canal or towards Great Haywood or Kinver on the Staffs and Worcs Canal, and return to Calf Heath.

You can contact the Truman Enterprise Narrowboat Trust via their website: www.Truman-Enterprise.org.uk

or for information about residential and youth group trips contact a coordinator on 01922 692734 and for day trips contact a coordinator on 01902 608572