BOLLINGTON INITIATIVE TRUST

Taking control of our assets

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Origins

Bollington is a small and attractive former cotton mill town of some 7,300 people which has undergone significant regeneration and re-development in the past 20 years, but retains a stone built character at its core and has three conservation areas. It is located adjacent to the Peak District National Park some 3 miles from Macclesfield. Bollington is renowned for its community activity.

Land and property values are very high and safeguarding and securing property and open space for community uses and benefits is becoming increasingly difficult. There are a number of buildings and areas of land in Bollington which could be developed, enhanced or protected for a range of community and wider benefits. Using a locally based trust mechanism and working with the statutory authorities will help to achieve real benefits for the community. The Bollington Town Plan also indicates a key role for the new Trust, working with Bollington Town Council.

Bollington Initiative Trust has been established with the following objectives.

Mission Statement

The Trust is a local company with charitable status (Registered Charity No. 1110683), established to assist in the social, economic and environmental development of Bollington and its surrounding area. It has some of the characteristics of a Local Development Trust and a Community Interest Company, organisations being promoted by the government to complement local charitable trusts and to encourage social enterprises. The Trust is a member of the Development Trusts Association.

Objectives

The Bollington Initiative Trust has been launched with the following objectives:

To promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment of the town and its surrounding countryside
To assist in the development of facilities and services that benefit the population of the town, the quality of life of the inhabitants and its economic development
To advance the education of the public in heritage and environmental matters, for both local residents and visitors to Bollington

Activities

In achieving its stated objectives the trust will:

Work closely with Bollington Town Council, the local authorities and relevant voluntary organisations
Own or manage important land and buildings for the benefit of the local community
Renovate and regenerate appropriate land and buildings in the Bollington area
Lease appropriate land and buildings to other organisations where this furthers the objectives of the trust and of those organisations
Make funding applications and receive income from all sources relevant to the work of the trust
Encourage partnerships between public, private and voluntary organisations, to advance projects in the town
Publicise the work of the trust, produce education and interpretation materials and encourage public access to land and buildings where appropriate

BIT will work closely with the Bollington Arts Centre, the Bollington Civic Society, the Bollington Drop-in-Centre, the Bollington Air Cadets , the Heyday Play Group, the Bollington Leisure Centre, the Town Plan Implementation Committee and other voluntary organisations and groups in the town, assisting them where appropriate and helping them to achieve new developments if required.

Projects

The type of projects which the Trust will tackle include:

The restoration of derelict or redundant buildings, for uses that benefit the community
The protection and management of open spaces, woodlands and watercourses
The creation and management of recreation and leisure facilities for the local population
The provision of training and educational activities in the town
The promotion of the town, to assist with its economic development, including tourism development
The publishing of educational and promotional materials

Projects presently being developed include Shrigley Road toilet block, Water Street school, Tinkers Clough.

The Management of the Trust

The Bollington Initiative Trust is managed by a management group of trustees and others, all of whom live in the town or its immediate surroundings. They are:

Graham Barrow (Chairman) – a heritage and environmental consultant. Graham was formerly Director of the National Centre for Environmental Interpretation based at Manchester Metropolitan University and has worked for the Countryside Commission for Scotland earlier in his career.

David Haddleton (Secretary) – a retired bank officer and training manager. David is also Secretary of Bollington Civic Society and is a trustee of a national charity that protects historic paddle steamers.

Will Spinks – the Registrar, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of the University of Manchester, formerly with Loughborough University and AstraZeneca.

Lester Humphries – a recently retired senior property expert formerly with the Co-op. Lester is also vice chair of the KRIV volunteers.

Jon Weston – an independent financial adviser and owner of Bradshaw Bennett Financial advisers.

Geoff Claughton – a qualified independent accountant based in Bollington.

David Broadhurst – a former Primary School Head and part-time clerk of Bollington Town Council who is presently teaching part-time at a local school.

The trustees are also assisted on the Management Group by:

Joe Wall – Finance Director of the Bollington Insurance Group.

Margaret Park – a former school teacher.

Kate Gooding OBE – a retired early years education administrator.

Kate McLean – an independent graphic designer and web site designer.

Bollington Initiative Trust
November 2007 (updated 2010, 2011)

Contacts

Chairman: Graham Barrow on 01625−573807 or email