Greener Padbury Group – Making Space for Nature in our Village
The charity raises awareness of environmental issues and encourages action to promote sustainability, enhance biodiversity and minimise environmental impact.
The background
During lockdown in early 2020, residents noticed how peaceful the village had become and how both nature and flowers were blooming. This was the catalyst for a small group of people to come together and discuss ideas and share knowledge about making a space for nature in their village of Padbury.
The challenge
Inspired by this a small group of Padbury residents, set up an unincorporated organisation in the summer of 2021, but it soon became apparent that the group needed advice in various aspects of running a voluntary organisation. The group’s main contact was already aware of the type of support that Community Impact Bucks could offer through her other volunteer role at Padbury Pre-School and approached us for help.
The solution
Greener Padbury Group received one-to-one support In November 2021 covering important areas in setting up an organisation including:
- Legal structures, governance, and constitution
- Policies and exemplars
- Funding support
- Trustee recruitment
The group responded quickly to the advice and worked through the suggestions, seeking further guidance as they worked through the steps to register as a Community Interest Organisation (CIO). There have been some key steps forward and significant milestones including the recruitment and appointment of trustees:
“We had a really good session on the structure of our organisation and were sent follow up information that included links to document templates. Following on from the session our group has a meeting next week to adopt our new structure and appoint trustees, so the session was invaluable- thank you!” – Lucy Read, Trustee
The result
In June 2022, the group has been very successful in 3 particular areas which – in its own words – was “not bad for our first year in action!”
- It became a registered charity with the Charities Commission
- It received a grant of over £8,000 from its Community Board to explore the potential of their local wood
- Jilly Jordan, Buckinghamshire Council’s Deputy Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Environment, presented the Greener Padbury Group with the Proud of Bucks Best Community Group Contribution Highly Commended Award
- For more information on Greener Padbury Group, visit the Greener Padbury Group Website.
- If your organisation would benefit from free 1:2:1 advice from one of Community Impact Bucks’ VCSE and Development officers, book an appointment at a time that suits you by clicking on Funding and Governance support session, and Volunteer Management and Recruitment support session.
- For more information on Running your organisation, go to our Support for Groups for a range of online resources, and to see our range of practical workshops, visit Training and Events.
