ABOUT US
A Community Benefit Society
We are a Registered Society, under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, listed as RS7923 on the Mutuals Register with the Financial Conduct Authority. Our legal form is that of a Charitable Community Benefit Society.
Read our governing document, known as Rules HERE
As a voluntary led non profit and social enterprise we exist to benefit the wider community and reinvest surplus funds back into the Society. Our purpose is exclusively charitable and we are recognised by HMRC as an exempt charity with the same tax benefits as registered charities.
Our membership is drawn from across the community. Anyone can join upon payment of £1 for a non-withdrawable membership share. This allows members one vote at an AGM. We are community-owned and community-led by an elected board of officers drawn from our membership.
The Society can raise finance from a variety of sources and a key feature of a Community Benefit Society is the ability to seek socially minded investors and issue withdrawable Community Shares to raise equity finance. All other restrictions on regulated financial activities apply in the usual way.
Our Board
Our team of volunteers consists of qualified and motivated professionals supported by business and construction specialists. Collectively we have many years experience of serving our community. Together we are committed to bringing affordable home ownership to modest income families in Eastbourne.
Sandy Medway
Sandy has led and worked with several local charities, including People Matter; Street Pastors; Hope Woodwork; Aid for Trade; and Networx. Secure housing is a common problem for most clients.
Jonathan Chiswell-Jones
Jo is a local small business owner making and selling pottery. He is passionate about helping the marginalised and is particularly concerned for people in housing need.
Johnny Coombe
Johnny has lived in Eastbourne for the last 15 years and works as a Relief Chef Manager in Assisted Living settings. He longs to see local people on modest incomes be able to afford a home of their own. Johnny's food offerings are renowned so don't miss any of our pop up restaurant fundraisers.
Paul Vine
Paul is the Commercial Director of OHM Energy Solutions, a collaborative renewable energy company that helps companies decarbonise their businesses. Private and public sector organisations across the UK, from manufacturers to monasteries, use OHM Energy Solutions to reach their net zero targets.
Co-opted Members
Susan Chiswell-Jones is a hugely valued Member of the CLT serving as co-opted Board Member. They bring a fresh perspective to ensure we keep focused on the important issues.
Business Support
We have been supported throughout our entire journey these past six years by the excellent and knowledgeable Graham Maunders from The Sussex Community Led Housing Hub.
Legal, Financial & Technical Advisers
The Board is supported by Zara Coton, Property Solicitor at Stephen Rimmer; John Caladine from Caladine Accountants and Verity Stevens from Lawson Queay (Surveyors).
Our Members
We currently have 190 paid up Members (May 2025), which gives people a say in how we are run and governed. Our public events and annual AGM is where Members can meet with active volunteers and vote in board members for the year ahead. Our aim is to build a Society that will develop in the long term an intermediate housing marketplace.
Community Support & Goodwill
Our Partners
Eastbourne Borough Council
Our journey began in April 2018 with a presentation about Community Land Trusts at Eastbourne Town Hall. The event was led by Graham Maunders from the Sussex Community Led Housing Hub.
We are thankful for the help given to us by Eastbourne Borough Council staff. As an apolitical community group we are grateful for the support of our MP and local councillors from all political parties.
Our Construction Partner:
Since 2019 OSM have actively helped and supported us. They have proved to be the ideal partners for us as a community group.
"OSM offer full design and build services for both traditional and MMC projects.
Being product agnostic we provide cost analysis on a variety of modern build systems, or hybrid combinations, in order to meet budget requirements.
On all projects we offer full transparency and flexibility to clients depending on their risk appetite:
- Full Design & Build
- Two stage Design & Build
- Cost plus / measured works contracting.
OSM Construction take a positive approach to value engineering and identifying opportunities for cost savings throughout the design and product specification stage."
Find us HERE
Our Associates
Our associates are working with us to help us achieve our aims. They are qualified and motivated professionals, who are all experts in their field, and with many years of experience.
Community Led Housing Adviser
Graham Maunders
Graham provides a range of technical advice and support to community led housing groups and projects. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing and a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Chartered Surveyor
Verity Stevens
Chartered Building Surveyor at Lawson Queay Chartered Surveyors
Solicitor
Zara Coton
Associate Solicitor in the Commercial Department with Stephen Rimmer Solicitors.
Accountant
John Caladine
Managing Director at Caladine Chartered Certified Accountants.
Our First Build Project
Five houses in Biddenden Close Langney
We are raising funds to build five new homes for key worker families under a shared ownership scheme. This is a part rent/part buy opportunity where we will own homes with owner occupiers. We envisage families having an annual household income of around £40k which will enable them to put down a small deposit and get a mortgage to buy a 30% share in their new home. They will pay a modest rent on the remaining 70% that Eastbourne CLT own.
Our Community Networks
Our networks provide us with links to communities of interest nationally, regionally and locally. We learn from each other, share news and expertise, connect to other communities and support one another.
Community Land Trust Network
The network supports over 500 CLT groups in the UK, and Eastbourne CLT has been a full member since 2019.
Sussex Community Housing Hub
The network supports about 23 community led housing across East & West Sussex. There are CLT projects in Herstmonceux, Bexhill, Hasting, Brighton, etc.
Eastbourne Society
Our Chair is an active member of The Eastbourne Society and has links to other heritage groups. They meet monthly at the Gather space in the Beacon Centre on the last Friday of the month.
3VA
The network covers all of East Sussex combining the work of three voluntary associations.
Registered Office: Caladine Chartered Accountants,
Chantry House, 22 Upperton Rd, Eastbourne, BN22 1BF
Copyright © 2018-2025 Eastbourne CLT. All rights reserved.
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