Our Legal Structure
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.
Anyone can read, or download, our governing document, known as Rules HERE
As a social enterprise we exist to benefit the wider community and reinvest surplus funds back into the Society. Our purpose is exclusively charitable and we have a strong asset lock. We are therefore recognised by HMRC as an exempt charity with the same tax benefits as registered charities. Read our Business Plan HERE
Our membership is drawn from across the community, and 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 Trustees drawn from our membership.
The Society can raise finance from a variety of sources and a key feature of a CBS 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 Trustees & Officers
Our team of volunteers consists of qualified and motivated professionals supported by business and construction specialists. Collectively, we have many years of experience of serving our community and together we are committed to seeing affordable housing for low income families in Eastbourne.
Sandy Medway
Chair & Chief Officer
Sandy has founded several local charities but discovered secure housing to often be an issue for clients. As part of Habitat for Humanity in Eastbourne during 1999/2000, she volunteered, along with many others to raise funds and support 2 Langney families with their self build homes in Faversham Road.
Chris Snook
Vice-Chair
Chris runs his own specialist Archeology Books company from home. A former Cemetery manager he is passionate about land use and preserving it for future generations to come.
Howard Medway
Treasurer
Howard was a retail director for 20 years before training to become a teacher. He was for 20 years a FE College Manager and Business Studies Lecturer. Now retired, he is a resident and director for the block of flats in which they live.
Iain Shore
Trustee
Iain is newly retired. He was educated at Sandhurst; served in the Army; worked in the Civil Service and also as a Chartered Taxation Adviser with Taylor. He served with The Construction Confederation 1991-2007.
Julia Galvin
Secretary
Julia is a talented doer of good things. She helps Chris run their small book business from home, and is currently hosting a Ukrainian family.
Coming Soon
Co-opted Member
We are just getting to know some new Members who are considering working with us at board level. Trustee appointments are usually co-opted volunteers who are put forward for election by Members attending the AGM.
Our Members
We currently have 125 members (July 2022) who have paid £1 to subscribe to our aims and have a say in how we are run. Our aim is to develop affordable homes for people in housing need.
Community Support & Goodwill
Our Affordable Housing Partner
Eastbourne Borough Council
Our journey began in April 2018 following a presentation at the Town Hall, organised by Sarah Tye at Eastbourne Borough Council, about Community Land Trusts. The event was led by Graham Maunders from the Sussex Community Led Housing Hub.
We are thankful to have been supported and encouraged since then by several local councillors and staff.
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.
Construction Lead
Lucas Shone
Projects Director at Boutique Modern, a family firm in Newhaven manufacturing modular housing units.
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 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 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 Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber links local businesses of all sizes, including social enterprises and charities.
