The initial setup of the Young Working Boaters Society was the idea of Rebekah Fuller, she wanted to create a social network of young people who are all interested in working boats, to perhaps meet up occasionally and discuss boating experiences.

The plan then expanded and we decided to create an official group to attend rallies and try and encourage a greater amount of youngsters to take part in working boat activities. Obviously we soon realised for this to actually work, we would benefit from having our own historic narrowboat which members can be trained on and shown the ropes, if we were to have a boat it would be used to promote our aims and hope to attact more interest.

The society was initially formed in July/August 2009, and officially launched at the Shackerstone Family Festival on the 5th September 2009 where leaflets were available for those interested parties and demonstrations of mangling and other washing techniques were displayed which gathering a large amount of interest.

The initial YWBS meeting was held at the festival in the back cabin of the working narrow boat Sickle, where the first committee panel was chosen and ways in which the club can progress. Despite only being running for a few months, the society has in excess of 20 members and is continually growing.

If you know of anyone who may be interested in joining the club, please inform them of our details.