Energy, experience, ideas and a passion for helping people are the prime considerations for local charity Valley Leisure who are seeking new Trustees to strengthen and diversify the Board.
Established over 30 years ago, Valley Leisure is a small charitable trust based in Andover with a passionate team committed to helping people ‘move more and feel better’. The charity operates two facilities in the heart of the town – Riverside Bowl and I Can Therapy Centre.
Moving more through everyday movement, leisure, physical activity, exercise or sport such as the activities available at Riverside Bowl and I Can Therapy Centre is fun and enjoyable and serves to prevent and protect against ill-health. Doctors and medical scientists tell us that movement is the closest thing we have to a magic pill and it’s never too late to start moving more.
Having survived the temporary closure of both sites during the global pandemic, Covid-19, the Charity is positioned to diversify its delivery mechanisms and expand its reach thus benefitting more people. This will help transition the Charity into new operating environments and work to develop services and deepen impact.
Valley Leisure is ideally positioned to help people locally to move more and feel better but the team have aspirations to spread the reach of Valley Leisure’s impact harnessing digital models.
Young people aged 16 or over and those with lived experience of a long-term health condition or disability are being encouraged to join the team of Trustees. Increasing the diversity of the Board through race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation is also an important step towards the charity achieving its long-term plan in helping as many people as possible get the most from life. The charity would especially benefit from those with experience of being a Chairperson, with digital, charitable, fundraising, health or social care experience.
Chair of Trustees, Dr Keith Blacker said “Valley Leisure is not just two words on a piece of paper, it is a group of people who are dedicated to doing one thing, helping people.”
The Charity Commission (2017) report that there are approximately 700,000 Trustees in England and Wales supporting charities and that Trusteeship is worth £3.5bn per year to the economy with Trustees contributing 1-4 hours each week to the charity’s they support. 90% of Trustees say that the role is rewarding and 94% say the role is important to them.
If you interested in finding out more about volunteering to be a Trustee and supporting Valley Leisure to grow and develop, contact Valley Leisure’s Chief Executive, Mr Chris Attrill on 01264 568240 or cattrill@valleyleisure.com.
