Attenborough is a village in the Broxtowe borough, 4.5 miles to the southwest of the city of Nottingham, which is home to several community groups. Helen Oparinde, NCVS Group Support Coordinator, spent a day out in Attenborough during January 2025 giving one-to-one support and co-delivering training. Here, she shares her day's adventures.
Helen set off mid-morning and called in at the local village hall.
Via a referral from Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire, Helen has started to support a local charity called Lucy and Vincent Brown Village Hall with reviewing their governance structure. Lots of historic paperwork dating back to the 1960s to read through.
The hall is at the heart of the village activities. With many organisations hiring the building to deliver services such as Attenborough Church Pre-School to 2nd Attenborough Scouts. The hall is available to hire for private parties, weddings, and other events. It has three separate function rooms, an extensive private garden, and off-street parking.
Next it was time for lunch.
The café at Attenborough Nature Reserve offers stunning views of the lakes at Attenborough and hearty meals on a wet winter’s day. A quick look around the nature shop, which stocked a variety of goods from Jellycat toys, binoculars, and notebooks.
Then off to co-deliver a How to Set Up or Develop a Group for Nature and Wildlife training session as part of the Wilder Nottinghamshire Network within the building.
Camille and Helen had previously met via a Broxtowe Green Umbrella networking event and designed a workshop to meet local needs.
Helen delivered learning on what legal structure to consider as you set up or as your group evolves. As well as what policies and procedures you need to consider when delivering this type of community group.
Camille explained the benefits of joining the Wilder Network and how you can get involved the already 70-member strong network. As well as advice on risk assessment and insurance.
Attendees included an individual from Beeston who is hoping to distribute pots of seeds and plants to provide some defence against exhaust fumes from school pickup situations. And an individual from Watnall who wanted to consider what structure to proceed with for helping to maintain some woodland.
As well as established groups like Beeston and District Civic Society, a registered unincorporated charity that was considering ways their members could get more involved with green activities. And Green Dawn Strelley CIC, a community interest company, has a funded project called GarDINEing Monday, which brings local people together to help it work for wildlife through micro-wilding.
Delegates left with a variety of knowledge, including about the purpose of a partnership agreement, when to consider converting structures, and the charity commission’s RR9 guidance, which summarises their views on organisations set up for the charitable purposes of preservation and/or conservation.
Feedback from the event included:
Helen helped to explain a really complicated process in a clear way.
In Broxtowe and looking for support?
If you are an established group or considering setting up a group supporting communities in the Broxtowe borough, why not book a team’s call with Helen to see how your trustees, staff, and operational volunteers can access fully funded training and receive one-on-one support?
Helen can be contacted by email at heleno@nottinghamcvs.co.uk.
Why not register for our next event in the Broxtowe borough? It’s called the Leaders of Volunteer Network (LoVN) extra meeting. A face-to-face networking meeting for anyone with an interest in managing, supporting, or leading volunteers.
The event is being kindly hosted by Middle Street Resource Centre on Tuesday 18 February 2025, 11am to 1pm. Register here.
