Community Land Trust ready to recruit
Wednesday, 26 May 2021
Calder Valley Community Land Trust, innovative local charitable trust is about to take a big step forward, by appointing its first member of staff.
The Trust is a member-based charity responsible for building six independent-living bungalows in Walsden and for holding the Fielden Hall in Todmorden.
Today, it has begun the process of recruiting a new Executive Manager.
The Executive Manager will take responsibility, together with the volunteer board of trustees, in leading the organisation forward into the next period of its development. The Trust's aims are to create new affordable homes to rent in Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd, and to hold significant community buildings and land on behalf of the community. Established in 2014, it recently attracted £270,000 in community share capital, primarily from local investors, and has more than 250 members.
Simon Brearley, CVCLT Chair, said, "This is a really significant moment in the story of our Trust. Up to now we've worked almost entirely through voluntary efforts. With an Executive Manager in post, we will be able to consolidate what we've achieved and plan for our next steps forward."
The Trust is currently in negotiation with Network Rail with a view to holding the now-decommissioned Hebden Bridge Signal Box as a heritage building for the community. It is refurbishing the Fielden Hall community centre and adjacent buildings and is also working on plans for new-build developments in both the centre of Todmorden and Hebden Bridge.
Simon Brearley added, "We've already demonstrated that local people can play a real role in meeting housing needs in our communities. It's been hard work but we feel that our Trust is now very much here to stay. We hope that it will continue to play a significant role in the years ahead."
Details of the Executive Manager post can be found at www.caldervalleyclt.org.uk/execmanager.
The closing date is 28 June.
Calder Valley Community Land Trust is one of more than 300 similar Community Land Trusts across the country, ranging from small village organisations to urban regeneration ventures. It is one of only a handful of Community Land Trusts to have been awarded the status of Registered Provider of Social Housing. The Executive Manager post is funded to a major extent through a three year grant from The National Lottery Community Fund.