At South Staffordshire Narrowboat Co Ltd we are proud of our heritage and our purpose. Since our foundation, our narrowboat (now Ernest Thomas II) has been bringing the canals to life for people across South Staffordshire and the surrounding area. Our charity exists not to make profit but to enrich lives through meaningful experiences on the waterways.
Our official mission statement is:
To promote the education and recreation of persons living in South Staffordshire and surrounding area by providing narrow boat trips to such persons having need of those facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, poverty or social economic circumstance.
How It All Began
The story began with Ernest Thomas, once Chairman of Walsall Football Club, who operated a fleet of working narrowboats throughout the Midlands in the mid-twentieth century. In 1953 he launched a narrowboat named Ernest Thomas at Old Birchills Wharf in Walsall. The boat was donated for use by boys’ clubs across Wolverhampton and Walsall as a way of offering recreation and opportunity in post-war Britain.
The original vessel served communities for many years and was later restored and renamed Vulcan. It can still be seen in the area today, standing as a reminder of the charity’s early foundations. You can read more on Our History here.
Ernest Thomas II and the Charity Today
In the early 1980s the idea emerged to build a purpose-designed narrowboat to provide canal experiences specifically for the disadvantaged, elderly, disabled and youth groups. A committee was formed to raise the necessary funds. With contributions from local and national charities and support from the Home Office, enough funding was secured to begin construction. Ernest Thomas II was built with the help of unemployed local workers under a community programme and entered service in 1986.
Since then the charity has operated day trips on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal and the Shropshire Union Canal, welcoming groups who might otherwise never experience life on the water.
A Volunteer-Run Registered Charity
The entire organisation is run by dedicated volunteers who give their time freely to benefit our passengers. Some volunteers are qualified skippers and crew trained to operate Ernest Thomas II safely, while others support maintenance, administration and general organisation.
The boat is always operated by a designated skipper and supported by trained crew members. Volunteers receive appropriate safety training and many hold recognised qualifications relevant to community boat operation. As a registered charity and non-profit making organisation, all income generated from trips is used to maintain the vessel, support its operation and ensure that we can continue to provide accessible canal experiences for the community.
Our Mission in Action
Our work focuses on promoting education and recreation for people living in South Staffordshire and the surrounding area who may otherwise face barriers to accessing such opportunities. We are particularly proud to support:
- Young people
- Elderly individuals
- People living with disability or infirmity
- Those experiencing financial or social hardship
By providing safe, welcoming and fully skippered narrowboat trips, we create opportunities for connection, learning and enjoyment in a peaceful canal setting.
Looking to the Future
While much has changed since 1953, the spirit of Ernest Thomas remains the same. We continue to operate with the support of volunteers, the goodwill of the community and a commitment to making the waterways accessible to all.
We look forward to continuing this work for many years to come and to welcoming new generations aboard Ernest Thomas II.