Hello supporters! Sorry we have been quiet of late, we have been busy behind the scenes communicating with various folk. Here is an exciting update: We recently had a brief online meeting with the Spitalfields City Farm Board of Trustees, at which we presented our questions surrounding the future of the farm for the four volunteer groups that have been suspended and are the focus of our petition. The most exciting news from this meeting was that the Board have appointed a new CEO, Phil Nichols, who began his role at the farm just before Christmas. This is huge and happy news!! We have had two meetings with the new CEO, who has a great deal of experience in the charity sector at management level. He listened and answered the majority of our questions frankly and talked very positively about his plans for the future. His approach is both forthright and inclusive and he brings (and is open to) fresh ideas to revitalise the future of the community. Phil discussed the three points we sought in our campaign. Here are the outcomes: 1. "Cancel the proposed cuts to the 4 volunteer programmes affecting young people, vulnerable adults and children, work experience and local families." It has been confirmed that the four volunteer programmes detailed have been suspended for the time being. This is due to a lack of ongoing funding for these groups, the previous funding having run out during spring 2020. Obviously it would have been advantageous to have secured ongoing funding in advance; the new CEO intends to secure funding to reinstate groups in 2021 and has also spoken of plans to widen the reach to include even more marginalised groups. We look forward to updating you as these and other groups come back online. 2. "Reinstate the Volunteer Coordinator role" As the above groups have been suspended, no restatement of this role will happen at the moment. But once we have the groups back volunteering at the farm we are told there may be sufficient case for the Vol-Coord role to resume. 3. "Provide a clear and transparent strategy to secure the future of the farm for the community and consult with the public and service users on issues concerning them and their engagement with the farm going forward." We have learned that the new CEO has plans to construct an exciting, forward-looking strategy for the farm, which will incorporate a full funding strategy appropriate to its ongoing services. This will be done in consultation with board, staff, volunteers and end users. There will be regular ongoing dialogue and a renewed emphasise on communications so that all stakeholders are aware of plans, current events and achievements. These communications will be both formal (AGM, etc.) and informal (website and social media). Conclusion: This is all a fantastic result! Rebuilding services will take time whilst the farm reorganises and seeks necessary funding, but Phil’s plans sit broadly along the lines of our outcomes and so we believe it is vital that we support him in making this happen. There is also in discussion the idea of creating a Volunteer Advisory Panel to bridge the connection between management and volunteers, which will no doubt ensure that the farm is run in much more of a co-operative style: BY the community FOR the community. We are therefore going to close this petition for now so we do not detract from any potential funders for these four programmes. We will continue to update you on our social media pages - which will now be changed to Spitalfields City Farm Volunteer Voices. Please keep following us there and supporting the farm. We still have a small pot of funds donated to this campaign left over from costs so far incurred. This will be kept independently for 6 months. If we are happy with the progress at the farm after that period, we will then donate the money to the farm itself. We would like to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who took the time to sign, comment and share our petition. This has been a highly fraught, stressful, emotional and hard going campaign to keep strong and your support has kept our core team going. Knowing that we had 1000+ people in the Tower Hamlets community, and beyond, supporting this campaign meant we carried on. We now look forward to a brighter 2021 with the farm as a strong, resonant and integral part of our community! Thank you. Save Our Spitalfields Volunteers