January is moving apace, so a belated happy new year to you and your families.
As we turn our attention to all that 2023 brings it’s opportune for the trustees to reflect and share some of what’s been going on over the past couple of years and in particular the last twelve months. More importantly a chance to outline some key dates, priorities for the year ahead and how you can get involved.
The Trust used the quieter period offered during and post pandemic to consider how it could continue to support the local community. During 2022 a number of key building blocks have been put in place. These are intended to create the foundations of a strategy that will build on the great work undertaken for more than a decade.
These include; the addition of some new members and the adoption of new scheme rules both of which will bring different thinking and a broader outlook. We have also conducted a full financial review, which enables us to be well placed verses our obligations over the short and longer term. A revamped and more engaging village website is now in place which will be refreshed regularly and we hope will be the solid base from which we can coordinate communication across the village. One example will be the integration of a new village hall booking system which is currently in its infancy.
In addition we have started to re engage with the local community by ; reopening the village hall, supporting local groups, taking responsibility for the jubilee celebrations and undertaking the maintenance and upgrading of our assets. The most noticeable being the significant work at the Jubilee Garden, the Village Hall and in the Square car park. It was great to be part of the village celebrations for the late queen’s jubilee but equally important for us to leave a lasting memory. Hopefully the beacon, refurbished wheel and stag together with the new benches and planters will serve as great reminders over many years of a memorable weekend.
Looking ahead we are very keen to work with all key stakeholders in the village. We will prepare a coordinated plan following a period of consultation with yourselves and other local groups after which we will get the ball rolling.
There are a number of things under consideration for the immediate future which include but are by no means limited to ; continuing to onboard new trustees, how we clearly articulate the Trust’s role and responsibilities verses other village organisations, strengthening relationships across the village, growing revenue to facilitate investment & the provision of grants to support local community activities, enhancing communication but above all delivering initiatives that will benefit everyone living in North Stainley and the surrounding parish.
As you can see there is plenty for us to be be getting on with in the short term in what we all know are challenging times. We have given our ‘to do’ list significant thought but would welcome the chance to listen to your ideas, suggestions and feedback before we finalise our plans.
In the next couple of weeks we will be getting together with other groups in the village. Thereafter we would like to host a meeting with yourselves to update further on what we’ve been up to, discuss ideas and most importantly hear from you.
We plan to do this on Friday 14th April at The Village Hall from 7.30pm-9.30pm
Further details of this meeting will be issued in late March.
We would love to see as many of you/the family as possible.
Please let us know if you are able to attend by dropping a completed form (below) through the village hall letter box (located on the side door to the kitchen) or by emailing enquiries@northstainley.org.uk
Please also keep visiting our website at www.northstainley.org.uk where we post content on a regular basis.
Kind regards,
The Trustees of North Stainley Sport & Recreation Trust