PEOPLE interested in supporting the future of the Heavens Valley are being invited to apply as volunteer directors of the community benefit society that manages the site.
The Heavens Valley Community Benefit Society (HVCBS), which holds the 102-acre Heavens Valley and Thrupp Farm on the edge of Stroud in community ownership, is recruiting several board members to help guide the next phase of its work.
The society grew out of the Heavens Valley Action Group, formed in 2023 by residents, councillors and environmental organisations to secure the valley’s streams, meadows and ancient woodland for long-term public access and nature recovery.
HVCBS is particularly keen to hear from people with experience in income generation and fundraising, resource and asset management, and communications and marketing.
Directors work together to make decisions, develop projects and support the long-term stewardship of the landscape, which is managed as a charitable community benefit society and cannot be sold except to another charity, providing strong protection for the site.
Applications are open until Thursday, August 14.
Prospective directors are asked to email a short CV and cover letter to karenthomas@heavensvalley.org.uk.
Candidates will first meet current directors for an initial discussion and will then be presented to shareholders for election via an online vote, giving members a direct say in who sits on the board.
To help anyone considering the role, the society is running two informal Q&A sessions.
An online session is taking place on Thursday, August 6 from 12.30pm to 2pm, with a link available via the Heavens Valley website.
A second, in-person session will be held at the Crown and Sceptre pub on Horns Road on Tuesday, August 11 from 6.30pm to 8pm, offering a chance to ask questions face to face and meet some of the existing team.
For those not ready to join the board, the society is also looking for volunteers to support its working groups, both out on the land and behind the scenes.
Enquiries can be sent to volunteers@heavensvalley.org.uk.
More information about Heavens Valley and the Community Benefit Society is available at the Heavens Valley website.
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