Brighton & Hove City Council is helping recruit a new trustee for Gorham’s Gift - a charity set up to preserve the rural character of Telscombe Village and protect and maintain a range of historic homes, farm buildings and farmland.
Gorham’s Gift is a registered charity and legacy trust which owns several homes, historic buildings and land in Telscombe Village.
The trust was bequeathed to the village by Ambrose Gorham following his death in 1933 and is now administered by Brighton & Hove City Council, via the charity.
Any surplus funds are used to help maintain the Church of St Laurence in the village and support community initiatives.
Gorham’s Gift traditionally has 3 trustees appointed from current Brighton & Hove City Council councillors, a representative of the council’s chief executive, and 2 co-opted trustees.
The trust is now looking to appoint an additional co-opted trustee from within the community to help keep Gorham’s original vision – to protect and celebrate Telscombe Village – alive.
Applicants do not need experience of being a trustee; the trust wants to hear from people with a passion for the area and an enthusiasm for local history.
Some knowledge of farming, farm or property management or experience in legal or planning would be helpful to the charity.
Councillor David McGregor, Cabinet Member for Economy, Culture, Heritage and Tourism at Brighton & Hove City Council, said:
Protecting and celebrating our area’s local heritage is hugely important and administering Gorham’s Gift is a little-known about but important role of the council.
“This is a voluntary role, but reasonable expenses are covered. It will involve attending a small number of meetings each year, mostly at Hove Town Hall, with one in the village, and working alongside fellow trustees to guide the charity's future.
“If you’re a local resident that wants to use their skills to support your community, please do get in touch.
For an informal, no-pressure conversation to find out more, please email democratic.services@brighton-hove.gov.uk before 20 August.