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It's time for The Friends to step up a gear! Following agreement at the AGM in February 2007, we will apply for charity status in the coming months, both to comply with legal requirements and to maximise the support that we can give to Paxton Pits Nature Reserve.

Preparations for the application will mean changes for the management structure of The Friends, and some substantial amendments to our constitution to bring it into line with the Charity Commission’s requirements and best practice.

While work to position The Friends for a successful application is onerous, it is a pleasure to note the drivers for the changes:

- the growing popularity of the Reserve with visitors. Over 120,000 visits per year by people wanting to enjoy the Ouse Valley countryside and get close to wildlife. More visitors to be welcomed, more facilities to support!

- the increasing likelihood of enlarging the Reserve by 3.7 times over the next ten years as part of Aggregate Industries’ application to extract the remaining gravel form the Paxton Pits complex. Most of the hurdles have been overcome and negotiations are at an advanced stage. What a prospect! And what a lot of support will be needed from The Friends – volunteer input, hides, viewpoints, boardwalks, information for visitors, habitat management – the list is long and expensive!

- the phenomenal growth of The Friends’ membership, now over 2200! Charity status will provide a way to make your subscription more effective through Gift Aid (at no additional cost to members), and it will improve our chances of winning grants for projects on the Reserve. Changing the constitution to satisfy the Charity Commission will also ensure that The Friends has the procedures, rules and statutes in place to secure the highest standards of leadership, administration and accountability to the membership.

Although the amended constitution looks quite different to the previous version, we have gone to great lengths to retain the key features that have contributed to The Friends’ success:
- a focus on volunteers’ and supporters’ involvement in the running and development of the Reserve;
- seamless working with Huntindonshire District Council as manager for the Reserve;
- and, above all, promoting the conservation and improvement of Paxton Pits Nature Reserve for wildlife and for the benefit of our visitors.

At the AGM, members elected 12 Trustees, who will be meeting during the spring to put everything in place for The Friends' charitable status. Much of the work will be achieved through groups of Trustees and other volunteers working together to energise conservation, volunteering, fundraising and publicity work at Paxton Pits. If you'd like to help, without the obligation of being a Trustee, please contact us.