From 1993-2019, the Friends of Rowntree Park ran as a not-for-profit organisation with a committee leading the day-to-day management of our volunteer activities. The Friends of Rowntree Park became a charity in June 2019 and trustees were appointed at this time. All trustees and committee members are volunteers.
Our Trustees and Committee work closely together. In fact, some trustees were originally committee members and still have active roles on the committee too. Our Trustees oversee the strategic planning of the charity. They make sure the Friends plans are in line with the charity’s aims and that the charity’s funds are handled responsibly. There is more on our strategy and action plan below.
Our committee members are involved in the day-to-day running of the charity. They plan and run events and activities in line with the charity’s aims and objectives. The committee has open/public meetings four times a year – January, April, June, and October (AGM). Subgroups also meet throughout the year.
We started with five trustees coming from the original committee. We recruited some new trustees in 2021, and more recently in Spring 2023, taking the number to 9. One of our original trustees is now our Charity Manager (Abigail Gaines).
We are still looking to recruit committee members; we welcome anyone who is a member of the Friends to join the committee.
Trustees –
Cath Mortimer – Chair
Anthony Chester – Treasurer
Polly Bennett
Becci Blues
Matt Segar
Jane Mackay – Secretary
Lucy Brown
Ed Woollard
Agnes Szechy
You can find out about the trustee role below:
Committee members
On our committee, we have those who lead areas and those who are general committee members who help out in a range of areas. We are always actively seeking committee members who want to lead or help out with areas of the Friends’ activities.
Team Leaders:
Charity Manager – Abigail Gaines
Oversees all and specific responsibilities for communication, volunteer coordination, Membership, newsletters, website, social media, press & publicity, events. Key point of contact.
Gardening – Stu Small
Education Lead– Christine Banham
Goose Management – Vacant
Litter Picking – Kate Lock (and Meg Spreckley)
Birds – Vikki O’Brien
Events – Abigail Gaines (and Christine Banham)
Other co opted committee members currently include:
Jan Kingdom (Sensory Garden lead/Tuesday gardening), Tom & Val Punchard, Rebecca Dodgson, Lara McClure (VYF). Johnny Hayes is leading on the Lodge project.
Vacant positions include – Goose Lead, Music Coordinator, Art Coordinator, Fundraising, Craft group coordinator and more.
Vision and aims
You can view our strategy here.
Our most recent action plan can be viewed here.
AGM information
AGM Minutes October 2023 (Chairs Report included)
AGM Minutes – October 2020
Chairs Report– Oct 2020
Minutes of public meetings meetings 2022
The Friends of Rowntree park have 4 open meetings a year. All members and volunteers are welcome to attend these meetings. A council representative attends and it’s a good chance to ask questions regarding the council’s role in managing the park. If you cannot attend the meetings but have questions to put foreward, do get in contact.