Background

Bromley Youth Trust is a  registered charity and was founded so that the International Youth Year 1985 could be marked by the London Borough of Bromley with a form of  on-going activity for the benefit of the young people in the borough.

The Bromley Youth Trust  constitution states that it “has been established for the purpose of  helping young people through educational, training and leisure time  activities, to develop their physical , mental and spiritual  capabilities so that they may grow to maturity as individuals and full  members of society. It may also encourage and support young people to  undertake projects, exchanges and visits, and enable the acquisition of  capital equipment for the on-going benefit of youth.”

Bromley Youth Trust is  administered by a board of trustees as listed on the Charity Commission  website and a management committee all of which are unpaid volunteers.

 The first major task  undertaken by the Trust was to purchase, equip and commission a  narrowboat for use on the inland waterways of Great Britain. In early  1988 an order was placed, for a seventy foot fully fitted narrowboat,  with AMARC Ltd.  

We are greatly indebted to  the late Christopher Reeves (Mayor of Bromley 1987/88) who selected this  project for the mayor’s charity. He raised in excess of £16,000 and the  boat was ultimately named in memory of his late wife Rosanne Reeves.  

Building commenced in the  summer of 1988 and by December the steelwork was finished and work began  on fitting out. “Rosanne” was delivered to Bromley on May 1st 1989 and a traditional naming ceremony was held in the Market Square  with Rosanne on the back of a low loader. The following day she was  lifted by crane into the Grand Union Canal. She is now moored at  Linslade near Leighton Buzzard.  

On 3rd May 1999 Bromley Youth Trust celebrated Rosanne’s 10th anniversary with a gathering at Soulbury. Rosanne was looking splendid  after a repaint. It was a great pleasure to see so many old friends of  Bromley Youth Trust on this occasion and in particular, Christopher  Reeves, his son Robert and other members of the family  

In 2011 and 2013 Bromley  Youth Trust was fortunate to receive Lottery grants plus additional  funding in 2012 from Bromley Youth Service which enabled major works to  be carried out replacing toilets and sewage tanks, re-fitting the  kitchen and skippers cabin, replacing mattresses and seating cushions  and external repainting. Rosanne is now refreshed, ready to continue  offering opportunities for residential experiences to young people for  many years to come.