Somerset Co-operative Community Land Trust

Your support can help us build more for people in housing need

As a small not-for-profit community organisation, we will always need and value help from the communities we serve and those who care about people in housing need.

We need both voluntary Board Members (Directors) and volunteers to help meet the challenges of providing more affordable homes and community facilities, and all the organising, planning, and administration and a whole host of other bits and bobs. Even if it’s just an hour or two every now again it all helps. And nearly everything can be done from home.

Board Members

We now need to strengthen our board to meet the challenges of our programme. We’re looking for experienced or passionate people who live or work in Somerset* to join our board. This a great opportunity to help us take a step up in fulfilling our aim of developing community-led, sustainable homes for affordable rents.

We’re looking for new board members who can help us steer the Community Land Trust through its ambitious housing development plans, manage our properties well, ensure that we are responsive to the needs of the communities we serve and we are financially sound.

As a board member you join our small friendly team of fellow directors. Board meetings are once a month and there is an optional monthly informal drop-in to discuss and explore issues and share knowledge - all online. The role of a board member is to make sure we are governed properly and follow good practice.  As well as the attendance at meetings you will need to be able to read reports and papers in advance of meetings. 

You will be joining us at an exciting time that is not without its challenges.

We have no employees at present but, are supported by a co-operative development agency that undertakes most of our administrative and operational tasks.

Requirements

We’re looking for a range of skills, experience and backgrounds to oversee our plans and operations and guide us in to the next phase of our mission.

Essential:

  • That you can spare 4-6 hours per month.
  • The ability to use your experience and knowledge to make considered judgements
  • To be able to work as part of a team.

Desirable: 

One or more of the following would be beneficial, but commitment and enthusiasm would be equally as useful:

  • Housing management or property development experience
  • Financial or legal skills or knowledge
  • Communications or marketing experience
  • Project management experience
  • Lived experience in social housing or deprived communities
  • Lived experience and a background from an under-represented community.

If you could spare a little extra time to take on a more active role in the planning and running of the Community Land Trust that would be welcome, but it’s not essential.

Benefits

We can offer you:

  • The chance to be part of a Community Land Trust, at an exciting time in its development, and to have a big impact on its plans and operations. Board members are essential to ensuring that we remain strong and able to navigate the challenges ahead.
  • The opportunity to be at the vanguard of community-led housing across Somerset and make a real impact on addressing housing need in the communities we serve.
  • Training and development opportunities.
  • A range of expenses including child/dependant care, travel, home office allowance and IT support.
  • The opportunity to gain experience as a director of a growing and ambitious community land trust/housing provider

* Includes BANES and North Somerset.

Volunteer

If you care about the housing crisis, want to see more community-led initiatives, want to share you know how, or simply want to get involved, we’d love to hear from you.

As a volunteer-led community organisation striving to help more communities and people in housing need we need all the help we can get. Your support could make all the difference.

Most things we need can be done at home, but you’ll always be welcome to use our fully equipped office in Taunton. There’s no set times or time commitment – it’s entirely up to you. As a volunteer you can get out of pocket expenses and all the benefits listed in the Director section above.

We would particularly welcome volunteers with experience or expertise in:

  • Administration
  • Bookkeeping
  • Marketing, graphic design, social media or websites
  • Fundraising
  • Community engagement/event planning
  • Housing, property management or development
  • DIY or House or Garden maintenance (Taunton)

There’s no formal application process – so if you’ve got an hour or more a month, please get in touch!

Building Opportunities

Somerset Co-operative Community Land Trust 
Registered as a Community Benefit Society with the FCA no. IP030745.