A community business bringing the walled garden back to life and enabling urban connections to the healing power of nature
In Winter 2017 Growing Sudley were accepted onto the Bright Ideas community business development scheme from Power To Change. The group were given a mentor who advised on the business plan and provided assistance around setting up the social enterprise and developing an accountable and compliant governance structure.
The CIC has been developed and managed almost exclusively by volunteers, assisted as funds allow by a team of practitioners and small local businesses. It is governed by a Board of Directors, who provide strategic direction and observe due diligence and compliance with the law. These are individuals from the community who were identified as having the skills and expertise to help guide the enterprise, enable it to deliver its social aims, and provide robust accountability. Find out more in our Policies and Procedures.
The CIC works closely with local stakeholders such as the Friends of Sudley Estate and Liverpool City Council, as well as local associations, charities and community groups.
If your group or organisation is interested in collaborating or connecting, please contact us
Katy Lobley
BOARD MEMBER
Dr Katy Lobley is a Tutor in Clinical Psychology at Liverpool University. A parent whose children attend Outdoor Club, Katy has been working in mental health with children and adults since 2004, and supports innovative initiatives that improve mental wellbeing in the community, across the lifespan.
Designated Board Member for Safeguarding
Su Stringfellow
H&S OFFICER
Su has been involved with the walled garden project since 2012, whilst using the green space with her children. She was co-founder of the community interest company in 2017 and has volunteered extensively for the organisation over the years. Su runs a local architects practice, Harrison Stringfellow, awarded RIBA role model practice for their ‘more than architecture’ approach - a form of 3D creative problem-solving that improves communities and encompasses social, geographical and design elements.’ Also cited were the practice’s challenges to workplace gender norms and their social purpose and community commitment. She stepped down from the Growing Sudley Board in 2020 in order to join the design team on our refurbishment of the Changing Rooms building.
Designated officer for Health and Safety.
Growing Sudley CIC operates a non-hierarchical model of Board Management, breaking with traditional structures for a more cooperative approach. We choose not to appoint a nominal Chair of the organisation, taking turns to Chair meetings and represent Growing Sudley at external events. This model allows for a diversity of voices and management styles within our Board Meetings and decision making processes, whilst conserving the order and formality required for good governance.
WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR A BOARD MEMBER WITH EXPERIENCE IN EARLY YEARS OR CHILD DEVELOPMENT, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING OUR AIMS