Sims Hill Shared Harvest is a member-owned and -led co-operatively run business. We are made up of veg share members, supporter members, workshare members and paid grower members. Our legal structure is that of a company limited by guarantee with multi-stakeholder co-operative rules. Within this structure the day-to-day running of the business is handled by its Board of Directors, who are elected every year by the members at the Annual General Meeting. There are (approximately) five open members’ meetings throughout the year where the members come together and help make the major decisions that guide Sims Hill, including the last meeting of the year where the budget for the next financial year is adopted.
Sims Hill Shared Harvest’s current Board of Directors includes:
Tim Lawrence is a community development worker, community gardener with ASAP (Asylum Seekers Allotment Project) and is one of the two staff growers at Sims Hill Shared Harvest. Tim wants to see more land available for community based food growing in Bristol.
Alison Crowther works as a mediator, helping government organisations avoid and resolve conflict on environmental issues. The skills Alison brings to Sims Hill Shared Harvest are facilitating workshops and meetings and managing inclusive processes where everybody is involved. Alison has always been passionate about great organic, local food – growing it, cooking it and sharing it!
Bobbie Sunderland is motivated by bringing people and good food together locally in a sustainable way. She is an experienced accountant, manager, administrator and keen allotment holder.
Kristin Sponsler is an active member of Transition Bristol, Bristol Food Network and the Bristol Food Policy Council. Kristin was raised on a farm and has a passionate interest in sustainable food systems and permaculture. She has a background in desktop publishing and website editing. She also serves as the current Secretary.
Chris Sunderland runs a charity known as Project Agora concerned with active citizenship and has recently founded EarthAbbey, a community dedicated to living more in tune with the earth. Believing deeply in the way that working land can build community, he is involved in a number of food-related projects, including a national growing campaign called Grow Zones.
Simone Osborn has a background in project managing different kinds of printed and web content from a career spent largely in the publishing and translation industries. Simone has worked in the nonprofit sector since 2007. She is active in Transition Bristol and wrote the Bristol peak oil report. Simone is interested in using her project management skills to help community projects become and remain viable.
Kate Whittle has been working in the social economy for over 25 years, both in the UK and overseas. She has provided support and training to co-operatives of all kinds, social enterprises and voluntary organisations. Kate is founder member of http://www.cooperantics.coop set up to improve, promote and develop co-operative skills in co-operatives and throughout all sectors of the economy. Kate has been a member of Sims Hill for two years.
