We're all about the boats!
The Trust exists to provide a narrowboat for community and youth groups
The South West Herts Narrowboat Trust exists to provide a narrowboat for community and youth groups. Formerly The South West Herts Narrowboat Project and registered as an independent UK Charity, it became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in 2018, and changed its name.
We want to make sure that every young person has the opportunity to broaden their horizon through narrowboating.
To fulfil that aim, the South West Herts Narrowboat Trust provides narrowboat hire and accredited training.
This is only made possible by the involvement of a group of dedicated volunteers.
Where did we start?
In 1987 Dick Gettens was a Senior Youth Worker in South West Hertfordshire. Dick gathered together a group of enthusiasts to build a boat that would enable community and youth groups to access the waterways. The South West Herts Narrowboat Project was born. This was an ambitious proposal, but the continued existence of the original boat is proof enough that it was not such a folly.
In 1989, the name of the boat was changed to Dick’s Folly in honour of Dick Gettens who died shortly after the official launch in May of that year.
In 2012, plans were formed to create a new wheelchair accessible narrowboat to enable even more young people to enjoy the waterways.
The boat – which was named Pickle’s Folly in memory of Graham Pickett – was built by Starline Marine.
Dick’s Folly and Pickle’s Folly have now helped generations of young people to form connections, learn new skills and build confidence. A fitting tribute to two boating enthusiasts who wanted more people to experience the world seen overwater.
Nick
RYA Training Principal
As a dedicated instructor and trustee, Nick Nieder serves as the Trust's RYA Training Principal. With a passion for introducing young people to the joys of the waterways, Nick is committed to fostering a love for boating and how it can be used as part of a great youth programme.
Mick
Instrcutor
Mick has volunteers with the trust for a number of years supporting the trusts development into a community Interest Organisation in 2017. As an RYA Inland Waterway Instructor Mick can be regularly be found delivering training and also supporting the Wednesday maintenance team, helping with the ongoing restoration of our base and boats.
Whether you are most at home balancing the books or tinkering with a narrowboat engine, there are volunteering roles to suit a broad range of skillsets at the South West Herts Narrowboat Trust.
Volunteering gives you the chance to develop new skills, make friends and give something back to the community.
The time commitment required can be flexible. You could help with boat and base maintenance at a regular Wednesday morning working party or contribute on a more ad hoc basis – for example, by supporting the handover process for boat hire.
Get in touch today to find out more about what is involved and current opportunities.
Below is a list of some of the activities volunteers can get involved in:
- Boat maintenance (including plumbing, electrical and engine maintenance)
- Cleaning, rust proofing and painting the boats
- General maintenance of the trust’s base at Kings Langley
- Supporting boat handover and boat return
- Administration support for training and hire bookings
- Finance administration
- Marketing support
Tea break with… Chris, our Chairman
“I’ve involved with the Southwest Herts Narrowboat Trust since 2006. What I find rewarding about volunteering is that simple thing of giving back to the community. Narrowboating gives young people and other members of the community new life experiences. It’s a completely different activity – one that they learn many skills through. They have to keep themselves safe, keep others safe and keep the boat safe.”
“I’m a motorcyclist, and I’ve spent my life going at 200 miles an hour. Narrowboating is the polar opposite. You have the time to chat with people and watch the world go by. You can pass through the woodland on a summer’s day and watch the herons, coots and moorhens.”
“On Wednesdays, we have a working group where we tackle a task for the day – whether that is organising the shed or clearing the leaves to keep the place tidy. You have the chance to chat about life and make some new friends. It’s satisfying once you have painted a boat or made the place more presentable, to step back and think ‘We did that.’”