It is a very exciting time for WSWG as we anticipate shortly submitting a Phase 1 Application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a two-year development period.
This could see WSWG employing staff for the first time, to deliver more events and activities, work up community-led plans for a Forest Hub building and secure match funding for our proposal which will bring Taymount Wood into community ownership.
To meet the anticipated gear change that this will bring to the depth and scale of our operations, it is vital that we go forward with as robust a governance and operational framework as possible, overseen by a strong Board of Trustees to ensure due diligence on all matters and a new and enthusiastic Committee to concentrate on delivery.
Up to now, our small Board of Trustees has been running all aspects of project development and delivery for WSWG together with the support of the wonderful and vital but ad hoc involvement of a wide array of other lovely volunteers along the way, but we’ll need more people now to make this work.
This year, the role of the Board of Trustees will be to oversee a transition to more of a governance function within the framework set out in this graphic.
The new WSWG Committee of 8 – 10 people will take a key role in guiding and developing community-led delivery of the day-to-day operations, potentially alongside newly funded staff.
This new WSWG Committee will comprise 8-10 people, including 1-2 trustees, sharing skills, knowledge and enthusiasm between them for the type of roles set out below.
Time commitment: Flexible — depending on the role and your availability, anything from a few hours a month upwards.
Committee roles will include; Forest Ecology, Climate and Biodiversity (1-2 people); Events and Activities (2-3 people); Communications, Social media, Photography, Blogs etc (2 people); Fundraising (2 people); Representatives from WSWG Board of Trustees (2 Trustees).
The WSWG Committee will determine its own means of operating, but it is envisaged it is likely to convene monthly, either in person or on-line, with interim activity as needed.
To strengthen the current board and establish a sound basis for effective succession in future, we are looking for WSWG members to become trustees of the WSWG SCIO. Roles might include:
Time commitment: Attend Trustee meetings from time to time plus occasional support between meetings – around 4 hours per month.
The WSWG Constitution requires a board of between 3 and 10 trustees. Vacancies to be filled at the AGM on 7th June Secretary, Treasurer and 3 ordinary trustee roles.
To be eligible for nomination and election as a trustee, you must be an Ordinary Member of WSWG living within the WSWG area, aged 16 years or over.
Whilst Membership of West Stormont Woodland Group is FREE and always will be, fundraising is a major objective in our journey to bring this woodland under community ownership. Please consider making a donation, however small, to keep our bid process on track. Thank you.
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