Welcome

The Pride of Sandwell (Narrowboat for the Community) Charitable Trust is a not-for-profit company that operates the narrowboat The Pride of Sandwell. The charitable body of the same name is a registered charity (No. 5750221) and the company is registered at Companies House (No. 1113850). The Trust was formed in 2006 and took on the assets of the former charity, the Haden Hill Rainbow Canal Boat Trust. A summary of the operations of the Trust since its formation in 2006 is given below:

2006

The Trust secured funding to employ a boatman which enabled us to make The Pride of Sandwell available for many groups and concentrate on increasing the ethnic diversity of those who enjoyed trips on the boat. Although the season was successful, the business model for operation of the boat relied on volunteer Second Crew being made available from other voluntary bodies. Unfortunately, the main body involved had funding issues so the required volunteers were not available. Trips operated in 2006 were thus crewed by the boatman with assistance from the Trustees or other volunteers.

2007

The 2007 season was a limited success. We were unable to secure funding to employ a boatman and The Pride of Sandwell was operated by the Trustees with volunteer assistance. This brought in sufficient income to cover overheads but did not allow any further development of the boat's activities

2008

The Pride of Sandwell has been leased to the Pirate Castle charitybased in Camden, London for the 2008 operating season, with an option to extend the lease for the 2009 season. This will give the Trustees time to seek external funding to operate the boat in the West Midlands.

IWA Festival, Wolverhampton

As The Pride of Sandwell may be returning to the West Midlands to attend the IWA Festival at Wolverhampton for the Bank Holiday weekend we may still be able to offer trips to organisations from the West Midlands as the boat travels from, and returns to, London to attend the festival. Please contact us for details.

This website will be updated regularly with news of The Pride of Sandwell and the Trust.