Thursday, 3 November 2011
Sarah is Town Hall's first executive director
The Hebden Bridge Town Hall project has taken a significant step forward, with the appointment by Hebden Bridge Community Association of its first Executive Director. The post, which carries the responsibility of overseeing the effective management of the Town Hall under community ownership, has been given to Sarah Lister-Blow.
Sarah is currently the Manager of The Gateway community centre in the Ravenscliffe area of Bradford, a successful community project which offers a range of facilities and services to local people. She is also working on a seconded basis for the new Inspire centre being developed by the Newlands Community Association in north-east Bradford. Inspire, like Hebden Bridge Town Hall, has received European ERDF and Community Builders funding to develop a major new building which will include both community and enterprise facilities.
Gwen Goddard, Vice Chair of the Community Association and the trustee who coordinated the recruitment process, said: "Sarah's experience and her obvious commitment to community-led initiatives like ours impressed us very much. We are sure she has the energy and the enthusiasm to make a real difference in Hebden Bridge, and to ensure that our new building, when it is finished next Spring, gets off to the best possible start."
Sarah Lister-Blow said: "I am looking forward enormously to working with the Association's trustees and with the whole Hebden Bridge community to make the Town Hall project a real success. I'm delighted to be coming in to a project which has already demonstrated that it can transform a little-used landmark building into a real hub of community life."
The post of Executive Director for the Hebden Bridge Community Association attracted applicants from across the country as well as from the local area and Gwen Goddard pays tribute to the high quality of the applications received. "We had some extremely well-qualified candidates from the Hebden Bridge neighbourhood, but also several strong applicants from well outside the West Yorkshire area. It's always invidious to have to reject good people, but the selection panel agreed unanimously that Sarah was the right person for us."
Sarah lives in the Thornton area of Bradford, but knows Hebden Bridge well and has many friends in the upper valley. She will be taking up her post in the Town Hall in January.
Previously
Job vacancy: Executive Director, Hebden Bridge Community Association Ltd (Aug 2011)
Town Hall will Open Doors as part of National Heritage Weekend
(2nd August 2011)
Chance to find out the latest about Town Hall construction on Saturday (June 2011)
Chance to find out about Town Hall offered on Thursday (May 2011)
Pennine Quarry will supply stone for Town Hall (April 2011)
Town Hall Development gets go ahead
(Dec 2010)
Calderdale planners give green light to Town Hall plans
Calderdale Council give 125 year lease for Town Hall (26 October 2010)
Town Hall Development Plans go to Calderdale (16 July 2010)
Community-run Town Hall to honour co-operative pioneer (June 2010)
Public consultation on Town Hall plans (May 2010)
Hebden Bridge Town Hall passes into Community Ownership (March 2010)
Association seeks Treasurer to take on Town Hall role (2 March 2010)
Invitation to see plans for Town Hall (Feb 2010)
Weddings and civil partnerships at Town Hall (Jan 2010)
Town Hall Future Secure (Dec 2009)
Open Doors at Town Hall attracts hundreds
Two major grants boost Town Hall Project
Town Hall Group seeks ‘Friends’ (April 2009)
Hebden Bridge Town Hall project: Transfer of Town Hall to community ownership one step closer (March 2009)
HebWeb News: New Charity created to manage Town Hall (Jan 2009)
HebWeb News: Government gives thumbs up to Hebden Bridge Town Hall plans (July 2008)
HebWeb News: Plans to put Town Hall once again at the heart of local life (October 2007)